South and southwest suburbs plan for eclipse

Residents in the south and southwest suburbs are preparing for the total solar eclipse that will cross North America on Monday.

A total eclipse occurs when the moon passes between the sun and the Earth, completely blocking the sun. When that happens, the sky will darken and it will feel like it is dusk or dawn, according to NASA.

While Chicago and its suburbs won’t be in the path of totality, or where the moon completely covers the sun, Carbondale will experience the total eclipse at 1:59 p.m., with a partial eclipse beginning at 12:42 p.m., according to NASA.

People observing the eclipse from outside the path of totality will see a partial eclipse, where the moon covers most of the sun.

Sam Forzley, an optometrist at the Forzley Eye Clinic in Lemont, said anyone who wants to look at the eclipse should wear specialized glasses that protect the eyes from the more intense rays of light.

Forzley said he’s been treating a patient who lost some of his vision after looking at the sun during an eclipse before moving to Illinois. The patient looked into the eclipse and a ray of sunlight burned his retina, Forzley said.

“He does not have 20⁄20 vision,” he said. “It’s nothing to take lightly.”

Solar eclipse glasses have special filters to protect the eyes, Forzley said.

“You should not use sunglasses or tinted glasses. They don’t have the protection that the eclipse glasses would have for viewing,” he said. “I would strongly encourage everyone to just leave them on during the whole process.”

Forzley, who is also the president of the Illinois Optometric Association, said the association gave about 30,000 solar eclipse glasses to state legislators so they could hand them out to their constituents.

State Rep. Nicole La Ha, R-Homer Glen, said residents can pick up solar eclipse glasses from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday from her district office, 106 Stephen St., Suite 102 B, in Lemont.

“Experiencing a solar eclipse is a rare and awe-inspiring event,” La Ha said in a statement. “However, it’s important that we do it safely.