According to an article by Lifehacker and Prevent Blindness, exposing your eyes to the sun’s rays during a solar eclipse without proper eye protection can cause “eclipse blindness” or retinal burns, also known as solar retinopathy, and the damage to your sight can be permanent.
With the next occurrence of the Moon passing between the Earth and the sun not expected for another 20 years after this Tuesday’s Total Solar Eclipse, you might be tempted to gaze at the sky without proper eye protection. However, even a brief glimpse of the sun during a solar eclipse can cause irreversible eye damage.
Some unscrupulous third-party sellers sell fake pairs of glasses through Amazon and other online vendors. To help keep your eyes safe to see another day, here are some tips to help you know that the pair you picked up will do their job.
Check the ISO number
To determine whether your solar eclipse glasses will block ultraviolet and infrared radiation, check the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) number on the frames. According to the American Astronomical Society (AAS), compliant glasses will bear the label, ISO 12312-2 (sometimes written as ISO 12312-2:2015) to show they reduce sunlight to safe levels.
Wait, counterfeiters put that number on there too, right?
They sure can. To ensure buying solar eclipse glasses from a reputable source, the AAS has created a list of manufacturers, vendors, dealers, and importers they have vetted to help with your purchase.
While the AAS points out they are unable to investigate all sellers, they do offer this sage piece of advice:
We do not recommend searching for eclipse glasses on Amazon, eBay, Temu, or any other online marketplace and purchasing from whichever vendor offers the lowest price. Before buying a solar viewer or filter online, make sure that the seller is identified on the site and the seller is listed on this page.
Can I test them myself?
According to the AAS, you can use sunlight reflected off a mirror or a metal object to test if your solar eclipse glasses work. If the light reflected seems dim through the lenses, you should be safe. However, if you can see any light through a lamp, light bulb, or other household light fixture, you may have a pair of counterfeit glasses.
Additionally, check your glasses to see if the lenses are torn, scratched, punctured, or coming loose from their frames. If so, discard them.
