FARMERSBURG, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) — With the 2024 total solar eclipse rapidly approaching, many residents are buying eclipse glasses so they can safely view the celestial event.
However, with so much excitement surrounding the event, and an expected large influx of people to the area as much of the Wabash Valley is in the line of totality, one area official is warning that people should be on the lookout for counterfeit safety glasses.
During an eclipse, un-shielded viewing can cause severe, permanent, damage to the viewer’s eyes, even blindness.
Greene County Emergency Management Agency Director Roger Axe provides the following tips to be sure you’re shopping for approved safety glasses.
- Look through glasses at a source of light, but not the sun. If you see unreduced light, your glasses are probably counterfeit. Proper safety glasses are designed to block out 99.99 % of light.
- If glasses have holes in lenses or are detached from frames or have scratches, they are not safe and may be counterfeit.
- Check the number on the side of the glasses. The number should read: ISO-12312-2:2015
- For more information, go to the NASA Website here.
WTWO is giving away 1,000 sets of eclipse glasses to folks who visit Preferred Bank in both Marshall and Casey in Illinois. The glasses are free, and will be given one set per person, while supplies last.
The Indiana DNR has announced that eclipse glasses can be purchased at any Indiana State Park inn gift shop or property office at a price of $3 each, with 4-packs available for $10. More information can be found online here.
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