Europe faces eclipse glasses shortage as demand surges ahead of total solar eclipse

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9 days · 7 summary articles
A scramble for certified eclipse glasses has gripped Europe ahead of Wednesday’s rare total solar eclipse, as pharmacies, opticians and shops report widespread shortages. In Spain, where parts of the country lie in the path of totality, the government distributed 2 million free pairs through 30 science institutions, yet demand has outstripped supply. Carrefour in Spain reported a twentyfold surge in sales, with prices reaching €3 to €6 per pair, while some shipments sold out within 30 minutes.
Doctors across the continent warn that viewing the Sun directly during the eclipse can permanently damage the retina. Spanish authorities withdrew six unsafe models from circulation, and in Madrid, the National Museum of Natural Sciences posted notices that its free supply had been exhausted. In Barcelona, optical shop owner Carles Sisquella said his store had been out of stock for 10 days. “There are now a lot of people who obviously won’t be able to get glasses,” he said .
The eclipse will be visible across Europe, with totality expected in parts of Spain, Portugal and Iceland. In Ireland, up to 98% of the Sun will be obscured in the southwest, the highest coverage since 1999. Peter Gallagher, director of the Dunsink Observatory, said the event would begin around 6:10 p.m. and peak about an hour later, with the sky darkening noticeably just after 7 p.m. Public viewing events are planned in Cork, Kerry, Dublin and Galway .
In Valencia, Spain, nine official viewing sites have been designated, including beaches and castles, with capacities ranging from 1,000 to 60,000 people. The regional government closed all natural parks due to extreme wildfire risk, redirecting visitors to prepared locations . The European Space Agency will livestream the eclipse from the Observatorio Astrofísico de Javalambre, while NASA selected the Spanish village of Villalibre for a global broadcast .
In Bern, Switzerland, hundreds queued for hours outside Foto Zumstein Video, where a final delivery of glasses arrived at 1 p.m. on Tuesday. Marketing manager Roy Stahl handed out chocolate to the crowd, with waiting times reaching 90 minutes . Belgian retailer MAS sold nearly 16,000 pairs, while Denmark’s Salling Group reported selling over 60,000 in 24 hours and expected to exhaust its stock of 350,000 .
Meteorologists in Spain forecast scorching temperatures during the eclipse, while Ireland’s Met Éireann said the southeast, including Wicklow and Waterford, offered the best viewing prospects. In Latvia, experts advised coastal areas for an unobstructed horizon, as the eclipse occurs at sunset .
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