Healthcare professionals in health centers and hospitals across the Valencian Community have received a circular from the Ministry of Health with recommendations to prevent eye damage during the total solar eclipse on August 12th. The aim is to protect children and adolescents, considered the most vulnerable group due to their curiosity and lower risk perception.
The circular, issued by the General Directorates of Public Health and Primary Care, urges healthcare workers to ensure "continuous supervision of minors throughout the eclipse." It emphasizes that while it's an opportunity to engage with science, direct observation of the Sun without protection can cause severe and irreversible eye damage, such as solar retinopathy, which may appear painlessly with symptoms like blurred vision or dark spots hours later.
The Generalitat requests family doctors, pediatricians, nurses, and other professionals to use upcoming consultations to provide preventive recommendations to parents and caregivers. The Valencian Association of Pediatrics and the Valencian Society of Ophthalmology support this initiative, considering healthcare advice crucial for preventing permanent injuries.
It is reminded that conventional sunglasses are insufficient and only specific solar viewing glasses complying with the international standard ISO 12312-2 should be used. Devices like binoculars or telescopes require approved solar filters. Immediate consultation with Ophthalmology is recommended for any visual disturbances after the eclipse.
