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The 2017 Solar Eclipse is here and it is imperative that you wear the proper protective eyewear when viewing the eclipse, whether you are in the path of totality or not. Be sure that you have official eclipse glasses that are compliant with the ISO 12312-2 international safety standard. To check out a list of reputable brands and retailers that have been selling the proper safety eyewear for the eclipse, click here.
Now let’s get into some safety tips for your eyewear today.
– Beware of fake glasses being sold. Most places are sold out of authentic eyewear, so be careful you don’t purchase fake glasses last minute. Four brands that meet the proper requirements for safety are Rainbow Symphony, American Paper Optics, Thousand Oaks Optical, and TSE 17. If you have any doubts about the authenticity of your eye glasses, throw them away and do not use them.
– Again, when in doubt, throw it out. If there are any scratches or damages to your glasses, they are as good as useless. You cannot risk damaging your eyes with too much light making its way through the lens of your safety glasses.
– Supervise children using eyewear to view the eclipse so that they do not improperly use the glasses, which could result in eye damage.
– There is a point in the eclipse when viewers can carefully remove their glasses, according to NASA and this is when the sky goes dark, with the sun completely covered.
– Do not make the mistake of looking at the eclipse through an unfiltered camera, telescope, binoculars, or other optical devices, even if you are wearing the proper eclipse glasses. NASA states gives instructions on how to properly put on your glasses, saying, “Stand still and cover your eyes with your eclipse glasses or solar viewer before looking up at the bright Sun. After glancing at the Sun, turn away and remove your filter — do not remove it while looking at the Sun.”
