The Moorestown Library in Burlington County has issued a warning to those who received solar eclipse glasses from them, stating that the glasses may have been counterfeit. These glasses, purchased from Walmart.com and labeled as being manufactured by Medical King, may not provide adequate protection for safely viewing the eclipse.
Safely viewing a solar eclipse requires specialized shades that are thousands of times darker than regular sunglasses. The American Astronomical Society had previously warned in March about scammers producing fake glasses in anticipation of the eclipse.
Following the eclipse, Google searches for symptoms such as eye pain spiked in states within the eclipse’s path. Symptoms of possible eye damage from viewing the eclipse include distorted vision, changes in color perception, blurred vision, and headaches.
In response to the warning from the library, a commenter on their Facebook post mentioned that she called a lab to test her glasses and was quoted a high price for the testing. The AAS does have a list of approved vendors, but even purchasing from these vendors does not guarantee that the glasses are not counterfeit.
As concerns grow over the safety of eclipse glasses distributed by various sources, it is important for individuals to take precautions and ensure that their glasses meet the necessary safety standards. It is always better to err on the side of caution when it comes to protecting one’s eyes during events like solar eclipses.
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