How to Spot Dangerous Counterfeit Solar Eclipse Glasses Sold in the US That Can Cause 'Permanent Blindness'

US News

Solar eclipse

by Jesse O'Neill

Counterfeit solar eclipse glasses made in China that could leave users with “temporary visual impairment” or “permanent blindness” are being sold in the United States, officials have warned.

The American Astronomical Society recently said it has evidence that dangerous counterfeits have crept into the market, potentially spelling disaster for some of the tens of millions of people who expect to travel to the total solar eclipse zone, and for many millions more who will sneak the peak of the partial event out of the zone.

The suspicious frames impersonate legitimate frames made by County Qiwei Craft Co., and can be quickly spotted as fake because they are no darker than regular sunglasses. AAS warned.

Real sunglasses should be “at least 1,000 times darker than even the darkest regular sunglasses,” advises Rick Feinberg, project manager of the AAS Solar Eclipse Task Force.

Officials warned that legitimate glasses must also carry an International Organization for Standardization (ISO) certification on the frame, although they may also be fake.

Real glasses shouldn't allow the user to see anything on a sunny day except “perhaps the sun's reflection on a shiny surface or a puddle, which again should appear very dim.”

If the glasses pass this test, users should look at the sun for about a second and note whether its face appears “comfortably bright” white, bluish-white, yellow, or orange, depending on the filter used.

Without a clear giveaway, the sunglasses will need to be lab-tested to verify their authenticity, officials said, with a list of items provided. Legitimate sellers.

Fienberg became aware of the problem after “a man who had purchased thousands of eclipse glasses from a distributor who was on our list at one point” contacted the agency to alert them that he had been robbed. According to Scientific American magazine.

The AAS did not have a reliable estimate of the scope of the problem, and noted that some counterfeit glasses had proven effective after testing.

“Safe solar monitors block all but a small portion of the sun's ultraviolet, visible, and infrared (IR) rays. Overexposure to sunlight in these parts of the spectrum can cause serious eye injury ranging from double Temporary vision to permanent blindness.

New York Attorney General Letitia James also addressed the issue on Wednesday press release.

“There are serious risks associated with not using proper glasses when looking directly at an eclipse, which is why everyone should follow guidelines to make sure their solar eclipse glasses are legal and safe to use,” the state attorney general said.

A spokesperson for James' office told The Post that he has not yet received any complaints about the counterfeit glasses, but is “looking out” for any violators.

New Yorkers can avoid being scammed by getting free glasses at any New York City library, at the Moynihan train station or at rest stops along the Thruway, which connects to the total eclipse zone that runs through western and far upstate New York on Monday. afternoon.