1. The Risk: Why the Warnings Are Real

a) The Danger of Looking at the Sun

During anytime except the brief total phase of an eclipse, looking at the Sun—even when only a sliver remains—can permanently burn the retina. This is called solar retinopathy, and it may happen without pain or immediate symptoms. [NASA] [CNET]

NASA says: "Except during the brief total phase... it is not safe to look directly at the Sun without specialized eye protection for solar viewing." [NASA]

b) What Makes a Filter "Safe"

Safe eclipse filters must block nearly all ultraviolet (UV) and infrared (IR) radiation, and reduce visible light to a safe fraction. The global safety standard is ISO 12312-2, which sets strict limits for all light wavelengths. [AAS Warning] [Sky at Night]

Many fakes and counterfeits carry the ISO label but have never passed accredited lab tests. Printing the marking is easy, but proving compliance is not. [NASA] [The Conversation]

c) Counterfeit vs. Fake vs. Substandard

- Counterfeit: Products pretending to be a legitimate brand, but may or may not meet safety standards.
- Fake/Substandard: Products that fail to block harmful rays and are always unsafe. [AAS Warning] [Yahoo News]

AAS notes some counterfeits may technically work, but only trusted vendors assure batch safety. [AAS Warning]

d) Real-world Examples

In 2017 and again for the 2024 eclipse, there were recalls of “ISO” labeled eclipse glasses that proved unsafe in tests. Some looked indistinguishable from real products. [Scientific American] [PBS NewsHour]

Even recently, some buyers reported failed “darkness tests” after purchasing seemingly legitimate products online. [Yahoo News]

2. How Counterfeits Get Through

- Easy to Fake Labels: Anyone can print “ISO 12312-2” or “EU PPE 2016/425” without genuine testing. [The Conversation]

- Marketplace Complexity: Massive online platforms allow thousands of sellers, making oversight difficult. [CNET] [Yahoo News]

- Imperfect Supplier Lists: Even AAS-listed vendors are sometimes copied by counterfeiters or impersonated. [AAS Warning]

- Verification Gaps: Not all sellers can verify every batch due to the cost and complexity of lab testing. [The Conversation]

3. Our Solution: The Absolute Eclipse Approach

Certified compliance from design to production: All our filters undergo accredited lab testing for ISO 12312-2 and EU PPE Cat. II compliance. We reject any batch that fails, no matter how slight. [Sky at Night]

Unique QR code traceability: Every pair features a scannable QR code with batch authentication. This makes it extremely difficult for counterfeiters to fake our trace chain.

Transparent supplier and audit chain: We publish our sources, verification process, and subject our manufacturing to third-party audits.

Alignment with trusted organizations: We pursue verified listings on AAS safe vendor databases and work with astronomy and eye-safety associations. [AAS Warning]

Consumer-level safety checks: We provide step-by-step guidance for at-home quick tests (indoor blackout, outdoor sunlight, and “sun-glimpse” checks) following expert guidelines. [AAS Guidance] [NASA]

We warn customers to discard any damaged filters—even legitimate ones—as per all expert recommendations. [NASA]

4. What Buyers Should Do

• Buy only from verified, trusted vendors: check updated lists from AAS or other astronomical societies. [AAS Vendor List]
• Ignore “NASA-approved” claims: NASA does not certify consumer eyewear. [NASA Caveat]
• Look for ISO 12312-2 markings, but do not trust them alone. Seek extra features (batch, QR, brand, certificates). [AAS Guidance]
• Test indoors: with legitimate glasses, you should see absolutely nothing indoors, even looking at regular lamps. [Yahoo News]
• Test outdoors: only the sun, as a crisp disk, should be visible, not streetlights or the sky. [CNET]
• Inspect for damage: any scratch, crack, or pinhole invalidates the protection. [NASA]
• Don’t stare at the sun continuously—even with real filters, take breaks as recommended. [AAS Guidance]

5. Conclusion: Safety You Can Trust

NASA and the AAS warn that buying counterfeit eclipse glasses can lead to lifelong eye damage. At Absolute Eclipse, we solve this risk by providing traceable, independently validated, and fully transparent solar viewing glasses you can trust with your vision. [NASA] [AAS Warning]

Protect your eyes, stay vigilant, and experience the awe of the 2026 eclipse with peace of mind.

Buy verified Absolute Eclipse glasses here: https://absoluteeclipse.eu