Bright-eyed residents urged to turn around as town prepares for eclipse

Nobody should ever look at the sun before, during or after a solar eclipse without protective eyewear. It is not safe to view a solar eclipse through any conventional sunglasses

As the UK prepares for the rare natural phenomenon of the solar eclipse on Friday, a Rochdale optician is channelling Bonnie Tyler’s classic 80s hit and urging enthralled bright-eyed residents to ‘turn around' when observing the exciting event.

On the morning of Friday 20 March, the UK will be plunged into darkness by a total eclipse as the moon moves directly between the sun and Earth and its shadows fall upon the planet’s surface.

Lasting approximately 90 minutes, the event will be the biggest since the last full eclipse in 1999 and the fascinating occurrence is set to capture the imagination of millions of people, hoping to watch the spectacle unfold.

As they look ahead to the event, director of the Rochdale store, Nigel Williams, and the Rochdale Specsavers team are warning residents to ensure they protect their eyes while raising awareness of the severe dangers of looking directly at the sun.

Mr Williams says: "While full solar eclipses like this only happen every now and then, you only get one pair of eyes to last you a lifetime, so it’s vital to look after them.

"And now we need to, more than ever, remind residents how best to protect their eyes. Looking at the sun directly, without the appropriate protective eyewear, can result in a condition known as solar retinopathy which can result in temporary or permanent visual loss.

"The easiest way to view a solar eclipse safely is to do so through a pair of 'eclipse glasses' with a certified solar filter. These eclipse glasses must be treated with care or they can quickly become damaged and unsafe to use.

"Alternatively, if you have access to the materials, make sure to only use an approved solar filter like #14 welder’s glass.

"Nobody should ever look at the sun before, during or after a solar eclipse without protective eyewear. It is not safe to view a solar eclipse through any conventional sunglasses."

The blackout will begin in the UK at 8.45am and the maximum eclipse, when the moon is nearest the middle of the sun, is expected to be at 9.31am.