. Solar viewing glasses. Man wearing glasses designed to allow him to view the Sun. The lenses of these glasses are made from mylar coated in aluminium. Mylar is a synthetic polymer. These lenses reduce the sunlight's intensity, making it safe to view the Sun for short periods. This allows the user to observe the Sun, for instance for planetary transits, sunspots or the early stages of a solar eclipse. Viewing the Sun directly can lead to damage to the eyes and even blindness. MODEL RELEASED