Solar Glasses Factory Working Around the Clock to Keep Up With Demand Ahead of Eclipse

American Paper Optics has been forced to triple their staff and stay open 24/7.

A solar eclipse glasses factory is working hard to keep up with demand ahead of the much-anticipated eclipse.

On Aug. 21, Americans will be able to see the moon eclipse the sun — but must wear special-purpose "eclipse glasses" to view it safely.

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American Paper Optics, which is headquartered in Memphis, Tenn., began preparations for the event more than two years ago. But production has really stepped up over the last several weeks.

They've tripled their staff and are now open around the clock.

Company CEO John Jerit gave Inside Edition's Megan Alexander a tour.

The last eclipse in 1979 had the country buzzing and people made their own glasses to watch it. But experts have warned that you need the right glasses to keep your eyes safe.

"A pair of eclipse glasses is over a thousand times darker than a pair of sunglasses," Jerit said. "You don't want to use your sunglasses to look at the sun."

Dr. Christopher Starr, Associate Professor of Ophthalmology at Weill Cornell Medicine, warned that if you stare at the sun too long, you could go blind.

"It's very important to wear these glasses because your eyes are precious, your vision is precious," he said.

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And there's another warning: Counterfeit eclipse glasses that look like the real thing, but may not protect your eyes properly.

"You can see how similar they are," Jerit said as he showed Megan Alexander a pair. "How they've copied our design."

He encouraged families to protect themselves to properly enjoy the eclipse. "At the end of it, you want for your kids and yourself to say, 'When's the next one?'"

For a list of reputable vendors and other safety advice for viewing the eclipse, NASA has more information on its website here.

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