Glasses
Total solar eclipses are rare astral delights that beg to be gazed upon. But don’t let the moon’s coverage fool you into thinking it’s safe to do without proper eye protection. It’s not. People who have done this in the past helped coin the condition “eclipse retinopathy,” the medical term for a retinal sunburn, which can cause permanent damage to vision, including blindness.
Do not attempt to view the eclipse with anything that does not comply with the ISO 12312-2 international safety standard. (Looking at you, regular sunglasses.)
What to do with glasses after the eclipse
If you’re not interested in keeping your eclipse glasses as a memento, there are a few options for what to do with them.
Donate eclipse glasses
Anyone with eclipse glasses is encouraged to skip the landfill and donate them through University Facilities and Services. Glasses will be donated to organizations that distribute eclipse glasses across the globe for upcoming events.
Undamaged and gently used eclipse glasses can either be:
- Dropped off at the Campus Information Center in Wilson Commons
- Mailed to the University Facilities Center at Box 270001
Read the full blog post to learn more
Recycle eclipse glasses
You can reduce waste by recycling the arms of your eclipse glasses. These are specifically the parts that sit on your ears. Unfortunately, the lenses aren’t recyclable, and must be thrown out.