With all the buzz surrounding the August 21st solar eclipse, Amazon customers have been purchasing solar eclipse glasses in anticipation. In order to safely view the eclipse, you need a special pair of ultra-dark sunglasses to prevent the permanent eye damage that can be caused by the sun’s rays. But in a statement on Sunday, Amazon announced that it contacted some customers who purchased glasses on Amazon that “may not comply with industry standards” and issued refunds.
Safety Concerns Prompt Amazon Refunds For Solar Eclipse Glasses
The company removed several listings for glasses on its website “out of an abundance of caution.” Reports of knockoff eclipse glasses that may not provide adequate eye protection have been circling, prompting the American Astronomical Society to update its safety advice.
The organization cautions buyers to be skeptical of solar eclipse glasses, even if they’re stamped with an ISO seal, which is used to indicate glasses that comply with standards set by the International Organization for Standardization.
The AAS posted a list of verified vendors and websites where safe eclipse glasses are sold, to help cut down on fraudulent glasses. The list includes websites such as American Paper Optics, vendors including Elipse2017.org and retail chains such as Best Buy and Lowe’s. Each listing sells solar eclipse glasses that have been “verified by an accredited testing laboratory to meet the ISO 12312-2 international safety standard.”
The AAS explained, “It now appears that some companies are printing the ISO logo and certification label on fake eclipse glasses and handheld solar viewers made with materials that do not block enough [light].”
How To Test Your Solar Eclipse Glasses
If you’ve already purchased a pair of glasses, the AAS has a tip you can use to test them out and make sure they’re the real deal. The organization says when you put the glasses on “you shouldn’t be able to see anything…except the sun itself.”
According to the AAS, “If you can see lights of more ordinary brightness through your eclipse glasses or handheld viewer, and you’re not sure the product came from a reputable vendor, it’s no good.”
The solar eclipse will take place in a 70-mile-wide space that can be seen from Oregon to South Carolina, with 12 different states in its path. It’s the first time a total solar eclipse will be visible coast to coast in nearly a century. Happy (and safe) viewing!
Watch the video below for more information:
Sources:
CNN
American Astronomical Society
Eclipse 2017
Eclipse Glasses
CNN
Engadget
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