Why Do you Wear Glasses during an eclipse?

Question

In pictures of the eclipse and other eclipses all the people have glasses to cover their eyes. Why is this?

Answer 1

During a solar eclipse, the moon goes in front of the sun.  That doesn't happen instantly, meaning that the moon gradually moves into that position, and then out of it.  While the moon is partially covering the sun, it gets darker outside, and the sun doesn't seem to be as bright.  Unlike a normal sunny day, your eye can look directly at the eclipse.  However, that's still a part of the sun you'd be staring at, and it can still damage the retina.  You could be blinded by it.  So people wear special dark glasses that have powerful filters built in.  Using those, it's safe to look directly at the sun for a while.  It's quite impressive, actually, when you see the moon covering part of the sun.  But not for the naked eye.  

Answer 2

Because to observe an eclipse, you need to look towards the Sun. If this is done with unprotected eyes, the retinas are severely damaged.

The glasses are special eclipse glasses, which filter out the infrared light. Normal sunglasses do not suffice for this.

Answer 3

Because if you want to watch you have to or you'll go blind, but then again you can go blind from looking directly at the sun anyways. So in other ways you always should be wearing safe glasses when looking at the sun during an eclipse or any other time.

Answer 4

They're special glasses made from black glass. This is because if you look at the sun with the naked eye, it's likely to blind you. If you want to watch an eclipse, you MUST get suitable viewing glasses. Even sun glasses won't stop your eyes from being permanently damaged.