On Monday, April 8, people in the United States will witness a solar eclipse. This event, which USA Today notes will not be seen again from the contiguous U.S. until Aug. 23, 2044, has caused a flurry of online discussion, ranging from tales of trying to get eclipse glasses to conspiracy theories about the eclipse itself.
Concerning the former, experts advise not looking directly into the eclipse and instead wearing a form of eye protection, such as the aforementioned eclipse glasses.
However, there are several problems with this idea. First, eclipse glasses frequently sell out around the time of an eclipse; second, the need for eclipse glasses in short notice has created a market for counterfeit glasses that will fail to protect the eyes of the wearer, possibly resulting in permanent damage.
Although one can find other ways to observe the eclipse, eager eclipse viewers have sought other ways to secure a pair of pre-made glasses. One method for doing so recently went viral—and spawned a lot of questions.
In a video with over 569,000 views, TikTok user Stefaunie (@stefaunie) says that those in need of eclipse glasses can simply head down to their local Sonic.
“If you are looking for eclipse glasses, Sonic has some if you order the Blackout Slush, and it’s only like 4 bucks,” Stefaunie says in her video, in which she holds a pair of Sonic-branded eclipse glasses. “I don’t even want the slush—I just wanted these boys.”
@stefaunie ♬ original sound – Stefaunie
Immediately, commenters began to wonder if they could trust Sonic’s eclipse glasses.
“would not trust sonic eclipse glasses,” said a user.
“those are fake and will damage ur eyes,” added another.
So are the glasses legitimate? According to a press release from Sonic itself, they have made sure that the glasses are appropriate for eclipse viewing.
“The eclipse viewing glasses have been approved for short term direct observation of the sun by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and have been lab tested to ensure they are safe and meet all applicable rules and regulations,” the press release reads.
Others on TikTok have attempted to verify this information as well, showing that the glasses appear to meet all of the requirements for safe eclipse viewing.
“They have the ISO certification with the specified number on it, and they also have the manufacturer, the manufacturer’s address, and their website printed on, which is a great sign,” explains TikTok user Rave (@rvenvan).
@rvenvan Replying to @madison if you got your glasses from sonic they are a good choice! #sonic #eclipse #totaleclipse #soniceclipseglasses ♬ original sound – Rave
“Now, I do already know this is a safe pair of glasses because I did look into the manufacturer, but again if you want to double check, you can take a flashlight, hold it up—this one, even though it’s a pretty bright flashlight, does not even shine through,” the TikToker notes upon trying to shine a flashlight through the lenses. “It is OK to see a small little dot; it just shouldn’t be very see-through or very bright through the glasses.”
For those in need of eclipse glasses, many commenters agree that Sonic is a good last-minute resource at a time when stores are running low on supply.
“I got 2 slushies and they gave me 6 glasses,” said a user.
However, others suggested simply going to one’s local library.
“The library always gives them out,” observed a commenter.
“They were free at the library,” echoed a second.
We’ve reached out to Stefaunie via Instagram DM.
Update April 8, 11:06pm CT: In an email to the Daily Dot, a Sonic spokesperson shared the following:
“The SONIC eclipse viewing glasses have been lab tested to ensure they are safe and meet all applicable rules and regulations. They meet the light transmission requirements of ISO 12312-2:2015, which means they are approved for direct observation of the Sun by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO).
The back of the glasses contain additional, detailed safety information, including:
- Direct viewing of the Sun can cause permanent eye damage. Glasses should be worn so that no harmful rays from the Sun can reach the eye. Never look directly at the Sun without eye protection specifically designed for viewing the Sun.
- Limit glasses to 3 minutes continuous use.
- Do not use with other optical devices.
- Do not operate a motor vehicle or machinery while wearing the glasses.
- Always inspect glasses before use and discard if any part is damaged, punctured, torn or if lenses are separated from the frame in any way.
- Discard and do not use after 3 years.
- Clean viewers with a tissue or soft cloth.
- Children should have adult supervision during use.”
Update April 15, 9am CT: In an email to the Daily Dot, Raven noted that fake glasses were more common than one might think.
“Over the preparation for the eclipse I came across three different pairs of ‘fake’ or ‘faulty’ glasses, and the people distributing them were none the wiser,” she explained. “This worried me, and I was glad to see so many people able to learn about eclipse glasses safety.”
“Out of everything about the eclipse, I don’t think people realize how spectacular it is,” she added. “We have a planet with a moon so perfectly aligned that we get this amazing sign; we are most likely the only planet in which you are able to see the corona with the naked eye.”
