You should not be able to see anything through the lenses when you put them on. I bought 5 pairs from the state science museum.

Unfortunately, it looks like I am going to be stuck at work during it.

Some libraries are providing free glasses.

"You might be able to pick up a pair of free glasses at your local
library. The specs look a little like 3-D glasses, but they're much more
advanced, specifically designed for safe sun-watching at your public
library. Thousands of libraries nationwide are part of the plan to
distribute millions of glasses and other resources to enable Americans
to participate safely in the astronomical show.

The Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation has
given funds and partnered with the Space Science Institute’s National
Center for Interactive Learning and StarNet to provide the glasses. One
of the Foundation's missions is to provide low-cost resources to allow
Americans to engage in science.

Be sure to call your local library to make sure they are part of the program. You will want to act quickly - they're going fast."

Might you trust NASA since they approved them?

Ah, but are they really the real thing? That's the question, jmc101. There's plenty of fake merchandise on amazon these days, so I understand why eld is a bit nervous about them.

Me, I'm planning to do it the old-fashioned way, with two pieces of cardboard or a convenient puddle, of which there will be many this time of year. (85% coverage here)

I have seen several articles with tips related to the source, the certification number and the country of origin. But there's always the possibility that a counterfeiter would stamp fake information on them. I also read an article about trying them on and what you should be able to see through them. The gist was that you should see nothing, except very bright lights, iirc.

This seems like a good source for information:

https://eclipse.aas.org/eye-safety/iso-certification

I just plan to not sit and stare at the sun for a longer than normal period of time, transfixed like a deer in the headlights :0

Amazon will let you know if they are not safe. My neighbor just posted this message he received from Amazon"

Hello,
We’re writing to provide you with important safety information about the
eclipse products you purchased on Amazon (order #114-8809945-8629805 for
Solar Eclipse Glasses [3 Pack] Adult Size Cool Style and Look CE and ISO
Tested Safe Solar Viewing).

To protect your eyes when viewing the sun or an eclipse, NASA and the
American Astronomical Society (AAS) advise you to use solar eclipse
glasses or other solar filters from recommended manufacturers. Viewing
the sun or an eclipse using any other glasses or filters could result in
loss of vision or permanent blindness. Amazon has not received
confirmation from the supplier of your order that they sourced the item
from a recommended manufacturer. We recommend that you DO NOT use this
product to view the sun or the eclipse.

Amazon is applying a balance for the purchase price to Your Account
(please allow 7-10 days for this to appear on Your Account). There is
no need for you to return the product. You can view your available
balance and activity here:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/css/gc/balance/

For more information about safely viewing a solar eclipse please see the
NASA and AAS websites.

If you purchased this item for someone else, please pass along this
information to the recipient.

We hope to see you again soon.

Sincerely,
Customer Service Amazon.com

the glasses should be stamped inside that they are certified

They cost under $2 here, where we're in the path of totality. Not sure how many counterfeits there are for $2, but I guess I could never be surprised.

After this eclipse, I am buying a stash of glasses for the next one. I have been chasing around looking for them in the Denver area for two weeks. Our town FB page is filled with requests from people looking for them.

Welding goggles or helmet with shade 12 or higher lens is approved by Nasa.

https://eclipse2017.nasa.gov/safety

There's the acceptable options from NASA

Just go order or buy a pair of welding goggles and approved shade lenses they will last you forever and most are pretty cheap. Amazon has lots of them. Those are much better quality lens and glasses than those paper ones.

I don't trust Amazon. I wound up returning my Lunt Solar Eclipse glasses as they did not have the ISO logo.

Luckily my library was giving them out and I got those. They only handed out a limited supply. And, the lenses of the NASA approved ones I got at the library were different than the Lunt, which looked like regular sunglasses. The NASA's ones look metallic.

Our library will be handing them out again on Monday, but it is not very well advertised.

When I stopped in at Lowes on another mission, I didn't see anymore glasses.

I had cataract surgery Monday and at my f/u on Tuesday the doctor's office (big eye clinic) had them, so you might check to see if any are available at a clinic or office near you.

Lunt Solar Systems is one of the approved manufacturers; I bought from them also and Amazon has not recalled them.

If you put the glasses on indoors, can you see anything? I couldn't, not even the sunlight coming through the window.

Raee, Lunt was on the original very long list of approved manufacturers. The actual site diverts you to Amazon. However, as I kept reading different articles, the ISO logo was mentioned and my glasses did not have this Logo.

Since Amazon already had to recall eclipse glasses, I didn't want to take a chance.

Lunt Solar did get back to me after I emailed them about my concern. They did not address the missing logo but assured me that the glasses were fine.

I got the ones from the library and we are using them. I returned the Lunt to Amazon.

I know! I am very paranoid.

Always better to be safe than sorry!

I got those Lunt ones from Amazon. They have the correct ISO number printed on the inside. Mine literally came in today. They seem utterly authentic & fine. I cannot imagine a counterfeiter going to the trouble to copy these..,they are $2 a piece. My kids are getting theirs at school. If dh & I go blind, I imagine we would get a pretty hefty settlement from Amazon, so there's that...;)

There's plenty of fake merchandise on amazon these days

Yes, this is such a huge problem anymore. I hardly buy anything there these days.

The glasses I bought are on the approved list and I can't see anything when they're on.

Shee, you should still test your glasses. Just because everything looks black when you put them on doesn't mean they are safe. There are ways to do this as pointed out in the AAS article. But the easiest way is to turn on your bright LED cell phone flashlight. You should just barely see a pinprick of light. There are numerous other bright lights to test against but this is the easiest.

And the recommendation is no more than 3 minutes of viewing in one article I read. Be safe!

The store in the national park where I watched the eclipse had a lot of left over glasses priced at $1. I bought several to be ready for the next eclipse in 2024 -- if only I can remember that I have them, and where I put them, when the time comes!

LOL Raee, that happens to me when I buy birthday cards too soon. I cannot even imagine 7years in advance! LOL

And they will surely be out of style! ;) But seriously, I heard that you shouldn't throw away your eclipse glasses because someone out there is collecting them to send to schoolchildren in Peru, where the next eclipse is occurring.

Gray, I heard about this and I am wondering how they plan to collect and ship without the glasses getting damaged. One scratch and they are worthless.

Our library is collecting them.