Fake Solar Eclipse Glasses Are Being Sold Online. Here ’s How to Avoid Scams

Amazon is giving refunds to customers who have purchased potentially counterfeit solar eclipse glasses, which could lead to eye damage in people who wear them while looking directly at the sun. The e-commerce giant said in a statement it has reached out to some shoppers who bought eclipse glasses on the company’s website that “may not comply with industry standards.” Amazon did not say how many potentially fake glasses were bought or how many customers were affected. The company said it asked people selling solar eclipse glasses on its website to provide documentation that verifies the glasses were certified and real, “out of an abundance of caution.” Amazon then removed the listings from sellers who did not respond and notified people who bought the glasses from them last week. The upcoming total solar eclipse will cross the country from coast to coast and be visible from only America for the first time in U.S. history. Here’s what to know about where to buy solar eclipse glasses and how to protect your eyes during the rare event: What do authentic solar eclipse glasses look like? Ahead of the total solar eclipse on Aug. 21, ophthalmologists and astronomers alike have been warning people to view the celestial spectacle only through proper solar filters that protect against the sun’s rays. Authentic glasses have lenses that meet the ISO 12312-2 standard, the international standard for safely viewing the sun. They’ll usually loo...
Source: TIME.com: Top Science and Health Stories - Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Tags: Uncategorized eclipse onetime space 2017 Source Type: news