“Safely viewing the solar eclipse without sustaining eye damage has, unfortunately, gotten more complicated since reports came out of counterfeit eclipse glasses being sold,” said Attorney General Chris Carr. “Counterfeit glasses may not offer sufficient protection from the sun and can lead to eye damage; therefore, we want to make sure that consumers take proper precautions so they can enjoy this once-in-a-lifetime occurrence.”
Do not view the sun without special eyewear. According to NASA, it is only safe to look directly at the sun if you have approved solar eclipse glasses or a hand-held solar viewer. No matter how dark they are, regular sunglasses will NOT protect your eyes from sun damage.
Get eclipse glasses from a reputable source. Check with your local library to see if they are giving out eclipse glasses. The American Astronomical Society (AAS) also provides a list of authorized vendors and manufacturers of eclipse glasses. To view list, visit https://eclipse.aas.org/resources/solar-filters.
Test and inspect your glasses prior to the eclipse. Make sure your eclipse glasses are free of scratches, tears and pinholes. You should not be able to see anything except the sun itself while the glasses are on. If you can see normal light or brightness, the glasses will likely not protect your eyes from damage.
Photographing the Eclipse – According to the AAS, you should not look at the sun through a camera, telescope or binoculars while using your eclipse glasses because the concentrated solar rays could damage the filter and cause serious injury to your eyes. Solar filters must be attached to the front of any telescope, binoculars, camera lens, or other optics, and consumers are urged to seek expert advice from an astronomer before using a solar filter with these devices.
