Q: I know it’s dangerous to look at the solar eclipse. Would it be OK just to wear sunglasses to view it?

A: Vancouver Island is probably the very best place in Canada to see the solar eclipse on August 21, so I understand your enthusiasm. It won’t be a total eclipse from where we are. As such, looking at the sun at this time has the potential to cause eye damage, not just from ultra-violet light, but also from other wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation, which your sunglasses may not filter out. You should be able to find some special inexpensive filters, or discover other ways to see the eclipse with just minimal research.

Dr. Alex Kennedy, MosaicVisionCare.com