In the Dark: Astronomers warn about counterfeit eclipse glasses
Fake glasses can lead to permanent eye damage
(InvestigateTV) — As millions of people gather on April 8 to experience The Great American Eclipse in North America, scientists and astronomers say it is important to prepare in advance, and that means making sure consumers don’t get duped by fake eclipse glasses.
The last total solar eclipse visible in the U.S. was in 2017 when most parts of North America experienced at least a partial eclipse.
A solar eclipse is when the moon moves in front of the sun as viewed from Earth, blocking some or all of the sun’s light depending on the eclipse’s path.
This could be the first time that some people have seen a solar eclipse, which is why experts tell us it’s important that consumers will need special glasses to protect their eyes.
It is expected this will be the last total solar eclipse in the U.S. until August 2045, with more than 31 million people living in its path. Many others will travel into the eclipse zone this year.
‘It’s kind of a surreal event’
Justin Bartel doesn’t necessarily call himself an eclipse chaser.
“Not a real avid one, but since they’ve been so convenient recently, yeah, I have been trying to chase them down,” Bartel said.
Bartel is an astronomer and the assistant director of education for astrology programs at the Science Museum of Virginia. He’s been fascinated with science since he was a child. He now manages the largest dome in the state of Virginia to bring the universe to children.
This will be the second time Bartel will be in the direct path of totality. In 2017, he traveled to the middle of the country and ended up in southern Nebraska to see that eclipse.
“The best way to see it is actually to travel and get in that path of totality and see the moon completely block the sun,” Bartel said.
This year, he will be able to experience the eclipse by traveling to his sister’s home in Texas. He said these events are cosmic experiences because it’s a unique way to see the connection between us and the universe.
“If you haven’t seen it, it’s kind of hard to appreciate exactly what you see. It’s just kind of a surreal event, it’s in the middle of the day” Bartel said.
That is when the world goes “blissfully dark for several minutes,” he said.
“You’ll see the shadow across the horizon approaching you, the sun will start getting dimmer and dimmer. The sky gets darker and then at that moment of totality, the whole world kind of changes, all the shadows change, and then disappear when the moon blocks out the sun,” Bartel said.
After three to four minutes, everything goes back to normal.
“It’s almost like nothing happened,” he said.
For most of North America, residents will experience some form of solar eclipse. Some parts will see a partial eclipse and others will see a total eclipse.
Approved glasses vs. fake glasses
Scientists are warning how important it is for consumers to wear proper protective eyewear during an eclipse, especially in the path of partial totality.
NASA warns that looking directly at the sun without proper protection is unsafe except during the brief three-to-four-minute total eclipse phase. At all other times, NASA says it is safe to look directly at the sun only through special eclipse glasses.
Fernando Carcaboso is a scientist and post-doctorate researcher at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland.
He works within the heliophysics division and studies the nature of the sun and how it influences space. Carcaboso also will be traveling to Texas to see the eclipse.
“I’m very excited, this is the first time I’ve ever been to a total eclipse,” Carcaboso said.
He watched his last partial eclipse from Spain in 2005 and will now be in the path of totality. He said having verified eclipse glasses is necessary.
“You can be fully blind, you can get serious damage,” Carcaboso said. “We naturally don’t look at the sun, it is something that we are forcing this time, we need to protect our eyes because the damages can be, like, they can last forever.”
Those dangers can lead to solar retinopathy, which is when powerful sun rays can burn the retina and can cause vision loss. Carcaboso compares it to getting sunburned.
That is why NASA scientists recommend using eclipse glasses that comply with the international standard ISO number 12312-2.
During the last solar eclipse in 2017, numerous news outlets covered fake glasses being sold online by major retailers.
“Don’t look for any random web page on the internet, just go for certified places where you can actually buy good quality optics,” Carcaboso said.
For the upcoming eclipse, InvestigateTV found consumers still need to verify where and from whom they’re buying solar eclipse glasses.
The American Astronomical Society is an organization of professional astronomers in North America and provides a curated list of certified suppliers of viewers and filters. The organization ensures that eclipse glasses are compliant with the International Organization for Standardization, known as ISO.
The society, known as AAS, does warn consumers of buying eclipse glasses from non-approved retailers.
It says on its site, “We do not recommend searching for eclipse glasses on Amazon, eBay, Temu or another online marketplace and buying from whichever vendor offers the lowest price. Before you buy a solar viewer or filter online, we recommend that you make sure that (1) the seller is identified on the site and (2) the seller is listed on this page.”
InvestigateTV ordered solar eclipse glasses from major online retailers such as Amazon and Etsy, as well as two of retailers recommended by AAS. We found the glasses recommended by the AAS were made of sturdier material and only showed the sun when tested.
InvestigateTV did have questions about the other two glasses we bought. We reached out to Amazon, Etsy, and Temu about glasses sold online to ask if they verify the sellers, what protocols they have to prevent counterfeit glasses from being sold, and what changes consumers can expect this time around.
We never heard back from Etsy or Temu. Amazon responded back to our safety questions but would not provide a statement or go on the record.
To be approved eyewear, manufacturers and retailers must send a compliance test to AAS for final approval.
Safely viewing the eclipse
Scientists and experts recommend buying from reliable sources or reputable vendors such as science museums, local libraries, and schools.
Manufacturers named on the AAS site are a good start. The glasses should have the ISO logo and ISO number 12312-2 printed on the glasses, and generally cost between 10 to 15 dollars.
Consumers also should know that NASA does not endorse any brand of solar viewers.
If a product claims that it is “NASA-approved,” that should be a red flag, according to AAS. Also, the solar eclipse glasses shouldn’t be too dark. The sun should be the only thing you should see through proper eyewear.
Consumers looking for a free option can make their own eclipse projector using a cardboard box, a white sheet of paper, tape, scissors, and aluminum foil.
Bartel and Carcaboso recommend the following:
- Inspect your solar glasses before using them on the day of the eclipse. Make sure to not use them if they are scratched, punctured, torn or otherwise damaged. Discard, if so.
- Be careful to not get your oils from your fingers on the lens.
- If you normally wear eyeglasses, keep them on. Put your eclipse glasses over them or hold your handheld viewer in front of them.
- Make sure the glasses have an ISO logo and the certification number 12312-2.
Bartel suggested researching verified manufacturers before buying glasses at a discounted price.
“It is the 21st century, there’s also nothing stopping anybody from downloading the ISO graphic, putting it on there,” Bartel said.
Carcaboso and Bartel expect large groups will gather to experience the rare event.
“A solar eclipse, it’s still something that you might only see once every five, six, maybe 10 or 20 years, depending on where you are and where those eclipses fall, so it’s still definitely worth taking a look,” Bartel said.
Scientists do warn that if you are using a telescope, you need to have a specific solar filter on it. NASA also lists other ways consumers can make their own projectors in addition to the cardboard box method.
“The first time I saw it was with the branches of the trees, and you can actually see the moon and all in the shadows produced by the trees, it is spectacular,” Carcaboso said.
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