Solar eclipse sparks scramble for protective glasses across Europe

A frantic search for certified protective glasses is underway across Europe as the continent prepares for a rare total solar eclipse. Pharmacies, opticians, and various shops are reporting depleted stock, struggling to keep up with the surge in demand from eager eclipse viewers.

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There are now a lot of people who obviously won’t be able to get glasses.

In Spain, particularly in areas within the path of totality, finding these essential viewing aids has become increasingly challenging. Many distribution points have run out, including Madrid's National Museum of Natural Sciences, which was part of a government campaign to distribute two million free pairs. While some pharmacies in central Madrid still had supplies, selling certified glasses for around three to four euros, others, like an optical shop in Barcelona, had been out of stock for ten days.

"There are now a lot of people who obviously won’t be able to get glasses," said one resident in Barcelona, echoing the frustration of many. Doctors are emphasizing the critical importance of using certified glasses, warning that looking directly at the sun during an eclipse can cause irreversible damage to the retina and impair sharp central vision.

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I got some for me, my boyfriend and a couple of friends whose online order got cancelled! It was this or nothing. You can’t mess around, or you’ll burn your eyes.

The rush is not confined to Spain. In Brussels, where approximately 90 percent of the sun will be obscured, people are also racing against time to find protective eyewear. One pastry chef managed to secure glasses for himself and friends after an online order was canceled, highlighting the difficulty in obtaining them. An optician in Brussels described the situation as intense, with shipments of 100 pairs disappearing within 30 minutes of arrival.

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Two boxes just came in with 100 pairs in total, they were gone in 30 minutes.

Similar scenes are unfolding in France, where some pharmacies have sold out of supplies while others are still receiving shipments, often at higher prices. Customers lined up outside a Paris pharmacy, only to be met with an empty display box. The pharmacist advised customers to check back later, anticipating another shipment, describing the situation as "pure madness" due to the overwhelming demand on suppliers.

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Come back in an hour or tomorrow morning. It’s pure madness.