“Even though the conditions were cloudy for the last eclipse, which affected only the South-West in 1999, more than 60 people telephoned a helpline set up by the Bristol Eye Hospital, reporting damage to their eyes. Sixteen years on, it is feared the risk to eyesight will be much higher as almost everyone in the country now has a smart phone. The selfie craze has also taken off, sparking concern that many over-excited viewers will permanently damage their sight by holding their phones up to capture the event. Daniel Hardiman-McCartney, clinical adviser at the College of Optometrists, says: ‘Taking a selfie could potentially put you at risk as you may end up accidentally looking directly at the Sun while aligning yourself and your phone.’”
