A library in New Jersey issued an urgent statement after learning that the Eclipse glasses given to its patrons may have been counterfeit.
The Moorestown Library posted one on Facebook alarm, arguing that “the solar eclipse glasses sold by the library may be counterfeit.” The statement went on to say that the eclipse glasses were purchased from Walmart.com and labeled as being made by Medical King, an approved brand by the American Astronomical Society, but that the library learned that the glasses may be are counterfeits.
The library discouraged the use of the eclipse glasses and apologized for the error. “I called a testing lab to see if my glasses could be tested for safety. “The lab wanted $1,200 to $1,500,” said a comment on the Moorestown Library Facebook post. “I just have to wait and see if I go blind at some point.”
On Monday, the Great North American solar eclipse swept across major cities in the United States, Canada and Mexico, giving millions of people a rare opportunity to marvel at the sun’s corona. However, problems can arise if you stare at the solar eclipse without proper eye protection permanent eye damage to the retina.
Related: Fake or safe? Here’s how to make sure your solar eclipse glasses are real
It wasn’t easy for consumers to know this Difference between fake and real Eclipse glasses. The AAS Solar Eclipse Task Force issued a warning in late March Evidence of fake and fake Eclipse glasses found on the market that were falsely perceived as being made by reputable manufacturers.
Also the Illinois Department of Public Health called back Eclipse glasses sold on Amazon and available at several retail stores in the Midwest.
As the moon ended its brief period of blocking the sun’s view, people took to the internet to complain about eye pain. Accordingly Google TrendsSearches for “my eyes hurt” and “why do my eyes hurt” increased after the total solar eclipse ended Monday.
Accordingly, after the 2017 solar eclipse, there were approximately 100 cases of eclipse-related retinopathy in the United States and Canada AAS. We still don’t have numbers on the number of people who may have been affected by the recent solar eclipse.
More: What were those bright red dots during the eclipse?