Eclipse glasses available in Waco before Saturday

No, sunglasses won't do the trick. Viewing Saturday's "ring of fire" eclipse without eye damage requires something with thousands of times more dimming power, according to experts, who warn against ever enjoying the view with naked eyes.

So-called eclipse glasses are available at various retailers, but supplies may or may not last until the skies darken hereabouts. From Waco, the moon will appear to start moving in front of the sun at 10:23 a.m., with the ring of fire effect visible between 11:53 and 11:59, and the eclipse completely ending by 1:31 p.m.

At the service desk inside Home Depot, 5605 W. Waco Drive, staffer Tacillia Lujan has witnessed the ebb and flow of product placement, with eclipse glasses moving from aisle end caps to near the self-checkout registers.

She said demand has been steady, though not spectacular.

"Without eye protection, I would not recommend looking at it at all," said Pete Mejia, a dispensing optician at Visionworks. "It could damage your retinas, producing random problems, including the loss of certain colors in your vision."

The Walmart website advertises eclipse glasses in various styles. Quiktrip, the convenience store chain, is selling the product in some markets.

Saturday's annular eclipse will be visible along a path 125 miles wide stretching from Oregon to Texas, with locals experiencing the full effects late Saturday morning.

"I've heard that Walmart or Target possibly would sell them, and I know for sure America's Best has them in stock," said Jasmin Jaimes, a scribe for Texas Retina Associates in Waco.

"Normal sunglasses do not work," Jaimes stressed.

Lizete Montalvo, an optician at America's Best Contacts & Eyeglasses on West Loop 340, confirmed the outlet sells eclipse glasses.

"They carry the name Solar Eclipse Viewing Glasses and are displayed on our accessory wall," Montalvo said. "We still have a few left."

Michael Nealy, a manager at The Bear Mountain outdoor and bike shop on West Waco Drive, said the store carries sunglasses and specialty glasses worn by cyclists, but "nothing quite along those lines," referencing eclipse glasses.

Nealy said he plans to view Saturday's eclipse, and the phone call set him to wondering about his approach to eye protection.

Eclipse glasses are advertised on Amazon, but delivery times could jeopardize receiving the merchandise in a timely fashion. Live Science, an online nature news source, urges customers to choose wisely in making their selections.

It says the American Astronomical Society, for example, does not share links to Amazon, Ebay or other online marketplaces on its website because "in the weeks leading up to the August 2017 U.S. solar eclipse, such sites hosted numerous sellers of eclipse glasses and other solar viewers that had not been properly tested and shown to be safe."

The article urges anyone buying eclipse glasses online to check the seller's name against brands appearing on the American Astronomical Society website.

Glasses should comply with the International Organization for Standardization's 12312-2 certification to provide acceptable protection.

Even wearing eclipse glasses, viewers should not look through a camera lens, binoculars or telescope, as they will amplify harmful solar rays.

Viewers with no access to protective eyewear can still take in the eclipse through shadows, however.

The small gaps between the shadows of trees' leaves will show the crescent shape as the moon starts to cover the sun, then show the lights and darks during the ring of fire phase. Viewers also can make their own revealing shadows by punching a small hole in a card and using it to cast a shadow on a surface. The effect of the eclipse will be visible in the part of the shadow where the hole lets light through.