Ahead of Wednesday’s rare total solar eclipse, Europe is seeing an intense surge in demand for protective eyewear, leaving pharmacies and opticians struggling to keep up. In Spain, which sits in the path of totality, certified glasses have become scarce. The National Museum of Natural Sciences in Madrid reported its stock was depleted, despite being part of a government initiative to hand out two million pairs nationwide.
While some pharmacies in Madrid still carried stock priced between three and four euros, many retailers in Barcelona have been sold out for over a week. Medical experts have issued urgent warnings, noting that direct solar viewing without protection can cause permanent retinal damage. Carrefour’s Spanish division reported a twentyfold increase in demand recently, highlighting the scale of the frenzy.
The situation is mirrored in cities like Brussels and Paris, where stores are frequently out of stock despite last-minute shipments. In Paris, some pharmacists described the atmosphere as frantic, with limited supplies vanishing within minutes of arrival. Philippe Besset of the French Federation of Pharmaceutical Trade Unions noted that the actual demand far exceeded original supply estimates. Critics, such as French Greens leader Marine Tondelier, have labeled the distribution effort a failure compared to the 1999 eclipse. Meanwhile, authorities in Spain have pulled six non-compliant eyewear models from shelves, as officials urge the public to avoid using uncertified alternatives.