The only safe way to look directly at the sun is through specifically designed solar filters. These filters are used in both “eclipse glasses” or in solar eclipse viewers you hold up to your eyes.

Even if they are very dark, your regular sunglasses do not provide sufficient protection for viewing the solar eclipse.

While it might be tempting to conveniently purchase an inexpensive pair of solar-eclipse glasses from online vendors, this puts you at significant risk of buying unsafe or counterfeit glasses that won't provide your eyes with adequate protection.

When looking through an authentic solar filter, you should not be able to see anything except the sun or equally bright light, such as the reflection of sunlight off a mirror.

If you can see ordinary lights through your eclipse glasses or handheld viewer, they aren’t safe and you are at a higher risk of damaging your eyes.

Check your solar filter or eclipse glasses for any damage before using them. Any damage impacts the device’s ability to protect you, so don’t use them if you see any scratches or dents.

Never look at the sun through an unfiltered camera, telescope or binoculars, even with eclipse glasses. By design, these lens-based devices intensify light rays, damaging the protective properties of eclipse glasses and your eyes.