Cassie Ellis tries on solar eclipse glasses purchased at a local retailer in Princeton, West Virginia. Protective glasses like the ones pictured above are supposed to be worn to safely shield the eyes from the sun while observing the National Eclipse on August 21.

With millions of eyes expected to be on the total solar eclipse Monday, August 21, keeping those eyes safe — especially those of the littlest eclipse viewers — has become the top priority of many.

The sun’s powerful light and rays can still be dangerously damaging to the human eye, even if contact with direct sunlight is brief. To safely view the much-anticipated eclipse, experts and officials offer the following tips to all eyes protected during the epic occurrence.

Wear proper eclipse glasses — A number of retailers have started stocking special glasses made just for the 2017 solar eclipse. However, all pairs of these glasses have not been created equal, as a school district in Virginia found out recently. Tazewell County school superintendent George Brown said officials there attempted to prepare students with special purpose solar filters or eclipse glasses, but after ordering the glasses the Virginia Department of Education released a statement about which types of glasses were safe to use.

The glasses purchased by county officials for educational purposes were not on the safe list and had to be returned. To make sure your eclipse glasses are safe for use, the American Astronomical Society urges viewers to make sure the glasses feature a message stating that they meet the ISO 12312-2 (or ISO 12312-2:2015) international standard for direct sun viewing. If this message doesn’t appear on your glasses, do not use them to view the eclipse or to stare at the sun directly.

Use solar filters — A great alternative to glasses, these versatile viewing aids will allow you to watch the eclipse safely via a camera, telescope or other items with a lens. As with eclipse glasses, be mindful of quality and standards when choosing the brand and set ideal for your viewing plans. These filters are available via a number of online retailers for fast delivery and are also sold in bulk rolls that can be used to make custom eclipse viewers.

Try pinhole projection — Possibly one of the safest ways to view the upcoming eclipse, pinhole projection is also one of the most cost-effective and low maintenance ways to safely take in the upcoming solar event. With your back to the sun, you can poke holes in items like index cards — or even leaves — and allow the eclipse to project the sun’s crescent shape through the item onto a nearby surface, according to the AAS. Not only is this option easy, but it’s perfect for children who plan to participate in eclipse events, as they can simply use their hands to create a similar effect.

Following these tips will not only ensure that you have a memorable eclipse viewing experience, but that you keep the eyes of you and others safe in the process. For more information on how to safely view the 2017 solar eclipse courtesy of NASA, click here.

The Bluefield, West Virginia Daily Transcript contributed details to this story.