Retailers report eclipse glass shortages as experts suggest household alternatives

Retailers across the country are reporting significant shortages of certified eclipse glasses as demand spikes ahead of the upcoming celestial event. Pharmacies, hardware stores, and online marketplaces have seen inventories dwindle in recent days, leaving many residents without the specialized eyewear needed to look directly at the sun.

Optometrists and astronomy organizations warn that staring at the sun without certified protection can cause permanent eye damage, known as solar retinopathy. For those unable to obtain glasses in time, experts recommend using simple household items to create indirect pinhole projectors.

The classic pinhole method requires only two pieces of stiff white paper or cardboard. Viewers poke a small hole in one sheet and hold it above the other, allowing the sunlight to pass through the aperture. This projects a safe, inverted image of the eclipse onto the bottom sheet.

A kitchen colander provides a similar effect with a unique visual twist. When held with its back facing the sun, the utensil’s holes cast dozens of small crescent-shaped shadows onto the ground or a piece of white paper. This allows a group of people to view the progression simultaneously.

For a more contained viewing experience, a cereal box can be converted into a viewer. Users cut a rectangular hole in the top of the box, tape aluminum foil over the opening, and prick a small hole in the foil. By looking through a hole cut in the side of the box, they can see the eclipse projected onto the bottom interior surface.

Authorities stress that regular sunglasses, regardless of how dark they are, do not offer sufficient protection for direct solar viewing. Homemade filters using smoked glass or CDs are also considered unsafe. The only safe ways to watch are through certified glasses or indirect projection methods.