ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) - Never look directly at the sun.

You’d think that statement would be a no-brainer — but it counts during an eclipse, too, according to Avnish Deobhakta, an ophthalmologist and assistant professor at the New York Eye and Ear Infirmary of Mount Sinai.

Deobhakta is urging the public to stay safe during the upcoming Great American Eclipse on April 8.

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One of Deobhakta’s patients stared at the partial eclipse in 2017 without solar glasses or other optical protection, he said. Even though she only looked for about 20 seconds, the image burned into her retina. Now, she’ll see the crescent as a black spot in her vision for the rest of her life.

“Always wear the right eclipse glasses,” Deobhakta said. “If you are going to look at the sun, make sure that those are coming from a reliable source.”

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Real eclipse glasses should say they comply with ISO 12312-2 somewhere on the side. However, some fake glasses may have counterfeit credentials.

Experts say you can test the glasses by looking at an indoor light. If the light is dim or even invisible, then the glasses should be legitimate.

Click here to see a list of approved eclipse glasses vendors, as vetted by the American Astronomical Society.

While the sun will be fully covered in some cities, Atlanta will see a little more than 80% coverage. The eclipse starts at 1:45 p.m. and ends at 4:20 p.m., peaking at 3:04 p.m., according to NASA.

The next total solar eclipse visible to the United States will be on Aug. 23, 2044.

How to watch the eclipse

While we won’t see a total eclipse here in Georgia, Atlanta News First be bringing you coverage all day from across the country. Watch a special on Saturday, April 6 at 7:30 p.m., along with wall-to-wall coverage on ANF+ on April 8 starting at 10 a.m. through the eclipse at 4 p.m.

You can watch ANF+ on our website and Youtube channel or through apps on AppleTV, FireTV and Roku.