Editor's note: Live coverage of the eclipse from the path of totality begins at 7 a.m. in the player above. Watch Total Live starting at 1:55 p.m.
The Illinois Department of Health issued a warning to residents after several pairs of solar eclipse glasses sold in the state were recalled because they “may not meet safety standards.”
The glasses were reportedly sold through Amazon and at least six stores in southern Illinois, according to the alert. Southern Illinois is a prime area to view the solar eclipse, and some cities, such as Carbondale, are in the 2024 total solar eclipse's “total path.”
The recalled glasses were sold on Amazon under the brand name “Biniki Solar Eclipse Glasses AAS Approved 2024 – CE & ISO Certified Safe Shades for Direct Sun Viewing (6 Packs),” the warning states. They were also sold at the following retailers in Southern Illinois:
- Farm Fresh Market, Breeze, Illinois
- Highland True By, Highland, Illinois
- Perry County Marketplace, Pinckneyville, IL
- Sinclair Foods, Jerseyville, Illinois
- Steelville Marketplace, Steelville, Illinois
- Big John Grocery, Metropolis, Illinois
“The recalled glasses are labeled 'EN ISO 12312-1:2022.' Proper safety glasses should have the ISO designation 12312-2,” the IDPH warning states. It is being
Some of the affected stores posted about the recalled glasses on social media over the weekend.
“If you purchased eclipse glasses from Farm Fresh, please do not use them. You may return them,” Farm Fresh Market's Facebook post on Saturday said. “The company I purchased it from informed me that there may be an issue with their product and that it may not block out all harmful UV rays. We apologize for the inconvenience.”
More information: Finding eclipse glasses in Chicago: Where to get them and how to know if they work
Retailers in other parts of the country also issued warnings about the recall.
“Do not use! Check your eclipse glasses,” said a Facebook post from Finks Alps in Union, Missouri. The Facebook post mentions glasses with EN ISO number 12312-1: 2022.
Similar Facebook messages were posted by nearby retailers in Missouri, including K&R Market in Marthasville and St. Clair Country Mart in St. Clair.
NBC affiliate station WHEC in Rochester, New York, reports that some people who purchased the recalled glasses from Amazon received an email from the online marketplace stating that the glasses are actually safe for viewing the solar eclipse. Instead, the label on the package was incorrect. The statement “AAS approved” is actually incorrect.
“Dear Amazon Customer, We are writing to notify you of a potential safety concern with a product you have purchased from Amazon.com. “Affected products: Biniki Solar Eclipse Glasses AAS Approved 2024 – CE & ISO Certified Safe Shades” for direct sunlight viewing (6 pack). The products listed above are not on the American Astronomical Association's list of safe suppliers of solar eclipse viewers and filters and may not be safe for viewing solar eclipses. ”
More information: Are glasses the only good option for viewing the eclipse? Some welding masks may be enough
The memo also suggested that customers who purchased the glasses should not use them to view Monday's solar eclipse.
An Amazon spokesperson told the news station in a statement that the notification was made “out of an abundance of caution.”
“We continually monitor our stores for nonconforming products, and if our proactive checks show that a product is not detected, we immediately address the issue and improve controls,” the statement read. written in part. “If you have any concerns about an item you have purchased, we encourage you to contact customer service directly so that we can address any questions you may have. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause you.” .”
How to check if eclipse glasses work
According to the Adler Planetarium, viewing a solar eclipse without proper glasses can cause irreparable eye damage within seconds, causing the eyes to lack nerve endings that can sense when pain is occurring. It's because I'm here.
Additionally, during a solar eclipse, your pupils dilate further, allowing more harmful rays to enter your eyes than on a normal sunny day.
Regular sunglasses, even very dark ones, are not safe for viewing the solar eclipse.
It's important to make sure the eclipse glasses you use are not counterfeit, as viewing an eclipse unprotected can cause irreparable damage to your eyes.
However, there is no real way to tell real glasses from fake glasses just by looking at them.
“Even if the glasses were fake, they might look okay, maybe because they're dark enough to look like you can safely look at the sun. But what you don't know is that the glasses are not exposed to UV rays. through infrared light. That's what I'm most concerned about,” said Michelle Nichols, director of public observation at the Adler Planetarium.
It becomes even more difficult to tell the real from the fake when companies promote unproven or inaccurate safety claims.
“Be careful not to assume that just because glasses say they are safe, they are actually safe, because anyone can do that,” she says.
If you're wondering how to tell if your glasses will provide adequate protection, here's what experts say.
“When you're wearing glasses, you shouldn't be able to see anything,” Dr. Nina Goyal, an ophthalmologist at Rush University Medical Center, told NBC Chicago. You can see the orange glow of the sun through these. Do not wear sunglasses, stack sunglasses, or use smoked glass. ”
Experts suggest purchasing eclipse glasses through suppliers deemed “safe” by the American Astronomical Society.
The association's list includes links to “selected suppliers of solar viewers and filters that we believe are safe when used properly.”
“These include not only companies and organizations with whom members of the AAS Eclipse Task Force have had good experience, but also companies and organizations with which we are satisfied that the products they sell meet the safety requirements of ISO 12312-2. The list also includes other companies and organizations that have demonstrated to international standards.
However, the association notes that its list is not exhaustive and that glasses not listed on the site may be safe. We do not recommend using Amazon, eBay, Temu, or other online marketplaces to find the cheapest options.
”Before purchasing a solar viewer or filter online, we recommend that you verify (1) that the seller is identified on the site, and (2) that the seller is listed on this page. Masu. ” states the association.
Here are the key points to find genuine eclipse glasses:
- When purchasing eclipse glasses, look for an approved manufacturer on the Astronomical Society website and look for the number ISO 1-2-3-1-2-2 printed on the inside of the glasses. please.
- A list of safe solar viewer and filter suppliers can be found here.
- If you still have your 2017 eclipse glasses, you may be able to reuse them. However, that is only if it is not bent, torn, or scratched.
Some Chicago area museums and stores are also offering free eclipse glasses and viewers while supplies last.
- Solar filter: If you use a telescope, binoculars, or camera, do not use them unprotected, even if you are using safe eclipse glasses. Please contact the manufacturer for the appropriate filter to install on your device.
- Pinhole viewer: This is an easy and inexpensive way to view the solar eclipse indirectly. Simply take two sheets of white paper (cardboard is best) and cut a hole in the center of one. With your back to the sun, place the perforated sheet on top of the other sheet and adjust until you see a dot of light. It's the sun! When the moon crosses the sun, a crescent moon appears.