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.
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.
Donate and repurpose
There may be additional opportunities and donation programs designed to reduce waste and repurpose your eclipse glasses.
After the 2024 eclipse, and with the help of the University community, the University of Rochester’s Sustainability Office donated nearly 5,000 pairs of eclipse glasses to help others enjoy future celestial experiences. This was achieved through a partnership with Astronomers Without Borders.