Current:Home > NewsAre your eclipse glasses safe? How to know if they'll really protect your eyes during the total solar eclipse -BeyondProfit Compass
Are your eclipse glasses safe? How to know if they'll really protect your eyes during the total solar eclipse
View
Date:2025-04-15 22:09:29
The 2024 total solar eclipse is almost here — and if you're hoping to get a glimpse of the phenomenon, it's best to make sure that you have real, working eclipse glasses that can protect your eyes.
Here's what to know about eclipse glasses and how to check that they are safe to use.
Are solar eclipse glasses safe to view the total solar eclipse with?
Solar eclipse glasses can be used to safely view a total solar eclipse, but it's important to make sure they're of the right quality. Don't use sunglasses, smoked glass, an unfiltered telescope and magnifiers or polarized filters as a way to view the eclipse.
The only glasses that should be used to look at a partially eclipsed sun is with eclipse glasses that meet an international standard, ISO 12312-2, according to the American Optometric Association.
That international safety standard, which is set by the International Organization for Standardization, means the glasses reduce visible sunlight to a safe level, and block ultraviolet and infrared radiation, according to the American Astronomical Society website. According to the ISO, the safety standard is reviewed every five years.
Blocking that radiation is important. Ultraviolet, or UV, radiation can damage the cells of the eyes, while the infrared, or IR, radiation can generate heat that causes thermal damage, according to the National Eye Institute.
How to make sure the eclipse glasses you bought are real
Real eclipse glasses will have a note about the international standard somewhere on their body, according to the American Astronomical Society. Before buying, make sure the glasses are advertised as meeting this standard.
If you already bought the glasses, check the arm for the the "ISO 12312-2" label. The standard may also be written as "ISO 12312-2:2015," the AAS says on its website. Either designation means that the glasses will block light and radiation.
The label may be on the flat or curved part of the arm.
NASA has also released guidance on how to test your eclipse glasses. The space agency recommends putting on your glasses and finding a bright light. If the light appears extremely dim, or doesn't appear at all, when you look at it through the glasses, they are legitimate. You should only be able to see the filament of the bulb, not its glow.
How to avoid buying fake solar eclipse glasses
Checking for the international standard isn't foolproof: It's possible for sellers with products who do not meet the standard to label their eyewear with it anyway. To avoid this, make sure you're ordering glasses from a reliable source.
The American Astronomical Society advises against ordering from Amazon, Temu or other online marketplaces, and recommends against ordering if prices seem to be too good to be true. The AAS also said it's best to purchase from manufacturers based in the United States. CBS News previously reported that counterfeit glasses have been sold by companies based overseas.
The organization maintains a list of reputable vendors of solar eclipse glasses. CBS News previously reported that NASA supports the American Astronomical Society's work, though the space agency does not maintain its own list of vendors.
The ISO, the body that established the international standard for eclipse glasses, also sells them on its website.
Why it's important to double-check older solar eclipse glasses
If you're reusing glasses from a previous solar eclipse, it's important to double-check that they are still in good condition. NASA warns against using glasses that have any marks or scratches on them. This damage can diminish the protection they offer. Glasses that have punctured lenses should also not be used.
Glasses that are more than three years old should not be used to view the 2024 total solar eclipse, according to the National Eye Institute — so if you saved your glasses from the 2017 eclipse, you may want to think about finding a new pair.
How to make sure your homemade eclipse viewing tool is safe
If you're not buying glasses, it is possible to make an indirect viewing method for viewing the eclipse at home. An indirect viewing method means that you don't look directly at the sun so your eyes remain protected even without eyewear.
NASA recommends making a pinhole projector, which uses a small opening like a hole punched in an index card, to project an image of the sun onto a nearby surface. When using a pinhole projector, keep the sun at your back and view the projected image to safely see the eclipse. However, to do this safely, it's important to make sure to avoid actually looking at the sun itself.
- In:
- Eclipse
Kerry Breen is a reporter and news editor at CBSNews.com. A graduate of New York University's Arthur L. Carter School of Journalism, she previously worked at NBC News' TODAY Digital. She covers current events, breaking news and issues including substance use.
TwitterveryGood! (9229)
Related
- Krispy Kreme offers a free dozen Grinch green doughnuts: When to get the deal
- U.S. charges Indian national with plotting to assassinate Sikh separatist in New York
- Supreme Court conservatives seem likely to axe SEC enforcement powers
- The Excerpt podcast: 12 more hostages held by Hamas freed in Gaza
- Which apps offer encrypted messaging? How to switch and what to know after feds’ warning
- Mega Millions winning numbers: Check your tickets for $355 million jackpot
- The Excerpt podcast: 12 more hostages held by Hamas freed in Gaza
- College football playoff rankings: Georgia keeps No. 1 spot, while top five gets shuffled
- Gen. Mark Milley's security detail and security clearance revoked, Pentagon says
- U.S. charges Indian national with plotting to assassinate Sikh separatist in New York
Ranking
- Charges tied to China weigh on GM in Q4, but profit and revenue top expectations
- Check your child’s iPhone for this new feature: The warning police are issuing to parents
- Soccer Star Neymar and Bruna Biancardi Break Up Less Than 2 Months After Welcoming Baby Girl
- Poland’s new parliament brings back state financing for in vitro fertilization
- The Super Bowl could end in a 'three
- Daryl Hall accuses John Oates of ‘ultimate partnership betrayal’ in plan to sell stake in business
- Jets begin Aaron Rodgers’ 21-day practice window in next step in recovery from torn Achilles tendon
- A forgotten trove of rare video games could now be worth six figures
Recommendation
House passes bill to add 66 new federal judgeships, but prospects murky after Biden veto threat
Protein bars recalled after hairnet and shrink wrap found in products
Algeria passes law to protect media freedom. Others used to imprison journalists remain on the books
Ukraine spy chief's wife undergoes treatment for suspected poisoning
Appeals court scraps Nasdaq boardroom diversity rules in latest DEI setback
Autoworkers strike cut Ford sales by 100,000 vehicles and cost company $1.7 billion in profits
Inflation is cooling, but most Americans say they haven't noticed
US Navy warship shoots down drone launched by Houthis from Yemen, official says