Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - Monday is an exciting day for Western New York with the Total Solar Eclipse set to sweep through the region.
Most should have special glasses to safely view them, but just in case, a special eye care clinic will be open on Main Street in Buffalo right after totality goes away.
Dr. Andrew Reynolds says UB ophthalmology medical residents will staff the clinic under the supervision of several UB Department of Ophthalmology faculty members.
"We want to help the Buffalo community and visitors have a safe eclipse viewing experience, but we also want to be here for the community if there are any injuries," said Reynolds in an interview with WBEN.
Reynolds says the condition associated with looking at the sun too long during the eclipse is solar retinopathy.
"It's a small little burn hole right through the center part of their retina," described Reynolds.
According to Reynolds, this will be like a regular eye appointment.
"We're also going to do some more advanced imaging, infrared scans that can actually detect subclinical damage, before it's visible to the naked eye," he said.
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Reynolds says the best way to avoid damage is to use the ISO approved 123122 eclipse viewing glasses, which blocks out damaging light. With Buffalo in totality between 3:18 p.m. ET and 3:21 p.m. ET, that will be the only safe period to take the glasses off. Reynolds warns damage can happen rapidly.
Reynolds isn't sure how busy he will be come Monday afternoon.
"We're hoping it's zero, but we're prepared to maybe see over 100 people and we're I would not say we're expecting that many people to have damage," Reynolds said.
He believes there will be a good chunk of people who are worried about it.
"I think there will be a fair number of people who are just nervous about this short amount of time they looked at the sun. I do think most of those people will be normal, and will not have permanent long-term damage," Reynolds predicted.
The post-eclipse eye clinic will be open from 4-to-9 p.m. ET on April 8 at the offices of UBMD Ophthalmology/Ross Eye Institute at 1176 Main Street in Buffalo. Walk-ins are welcome.
For any eclipse-related eye injuries, call (716)-881-7900.