How to tell if your solar eclipse glasses are fake

As Ontarians prepare for Monday’s solar eclipse, many are discovering that the solar viewing glasses they have purchased may not be safe.

As Ontarians prepare for Monday’s solar eclipse, many are discovering that the solar viewing glasses they have purchased may not be safe.

Recently, Amazon issued a recall for certain eclipse glasses that have not been approved by the American Astronomical Society, and warns anyone who received the recall not to use the glasses during the eclipse.

The posting had title variations including the following: “Solar Eclipse Glasses Approved 2024, CE and ISO Certified Solar Eclipse Observation Glasses,Sun Viewing for Solar Eclipse”.

Carleton Place resident Joanne MacDonald also fears she received unsafe eclipse glasses after seeing her pair in a television news segment.

"There was a segment on glasses for the solar eclipse that are not good,” MacDonald told CTV News Ottawa. “The pair they held up were exactly the same pair that were purchased in Perth."

MacDonald says her glasses were purchased at the Home Hardware store in Perth.

Home Hardware declined an interview but told CTV News Ottawa it stands by the product and was sold out of the glasses at the Perth location.