Solar eclipse warning: Six pairs of glasses withdrawn in Spain over eye injury fears

Just because a pair of cardboard eclipse glasses carries a CE mark does it automatically mean you should trust them with your family’s eyesight?

That is the warning facing people across Spain with just two days to go before the total solar eclipse on Wednesday, August 12, after consumer authorities ordered six models of eclipse glasses to be withdrawn from the market over concerns about eye safety.

FACUA-Consumidores en Accion, the independent Spanish consumer agency, says the affected glasses were detected by consumer protection authorities in Madrid, Castilla y Leon, Galicia, La Rioja and Aragon.

Six models from the brands Lionstar, ECP Eye Care Proffesional, Pelispan, Homanaje, Orro and even renowned retailer Opticalia have been affected. The problem identified by the authorities relates to the filters being too dark, making it difficult for the wearer to locate the Sun. That might sound like a relatively minor problem, but it can create a dangerous reaction.

Ordenan la retirada de seis modelos de gafas para el eclipse solar por riesgo de lesiones oculares.

Se trata de productos de las marcas Lionstar, ECP Eye Care Proffesional, Pelispan, Homanaje, Orro y Opticalia.https://t.co/Xs2rKtmQWJ

— Rubén Sánchez (@RubenSanchezTW) August 10, 2026

Six eclipse glasses models withdrawn in Spain

Anyone who puts on eclipse glasses and cannot see where the Sun is may instinctively move them, tilt them or take them off briefly to find the correct position. Doing that while facing the Sun can leave the eyes directly exposed to visible, ultraviolet and infrared radiation. FACUA says this can result in a chemical or thermal injury to the cells of the retina.

Here are the six products identified in the consumer alerts:

FACUA has also warned that similar problems could potentially affect other eclipse glasses that have been sold or handed out in recent months.

Does a CE mark mean eclipse glasses are safe?

A CE symbol printed on the glasses is not, by itself, a guarantee that the product is safe for looking directly at the Sun. Proper solar viewing filters are covered by the international ISO 12312-2 standard, which specifically applies to products intended for direct observation of the Sun, including solar eclipse glasses.

Specialist eclipse safety guidance also warns consumers not to assume that simply printing an ISO reference on a product makes it compliant. Properly tested products should have been assessed by an appropriately accredited laboratory, with the manufacturer and supply chain identifiable. That makes traceability particularly important this week.

Consumers should check the glasses carefully for the relevant ISO 12312-2 reference, CE marking and clear manufacturer identification. Any glasses with scratches, holes, tears or other damage should be thrown away. Buying from an established optical outlet, recognised supplier or another trustworthy source is a much safer approach than relying on an anonymous online listing or an unidentifiable pair of cardboard glasses.

Solar eclipse could damage your eyes in seconds

Ophthalmologist Estefania Cobos Martin, a retina specialist at Hospital Universitario de Bellvitge in Barcelona, has warned that looking at the Sun without proper protection can cause serious retinal burns within seconds.

One reason eclipse viewing can catch people out is that the Sun appears less uncomfortable as the sky becomes darker. Reduced ambient light can make people feel that looking towards the Sun is easier. Pupils can also dilate slightly, while the retina continues to receive dangerous visible and invisible radiation.

Retinal damage can be particularly deceptive because it does not necessarily hurt. The retina does not have the pain receptors found elsewhere in the body, meaning a person can suffer serious damage without feeling anything at the moment it happens. Symptoms can appear hours later or during the following 24 to 48 hours.

Possible warning signs include blurred vision, a fixed dark spot in the centre of the field of vision, distorted images, changes in colour perception and unusual sensitivity to light. Anyone developing those symptoms after solar viewing should seek medical attention as soon as possible.

Ordinary sunglasses are not enough

Ordinary sunglasses should never be used to look directly at the Sun, regardless of how dark they appear. ISO makes a clear distinction between ordinary sunglasses and specialist filters designed for direct solar observation. ISO 12312-2 applies to the latter, not normal sunglasses.

Cameras, binoculars and telescopes also need special solar filters. Putting eclipse glasses on your face and then looking through an unfiltered optical device is not safe because the concentrated sunlight can damage the filter and the eyes.

Children should be supervised particularly closely during the eclipse so they do not remove their protection while facing the Sun. Anyone outside the narrow path of totality must keep proper solar protection in place throughout the eclipse.

Spain’s Instituto Geografico Nacional says the August 12 eclipse will be visible as total across much of the northern half of the country, while southern areas will see a partial eclipse. The total phase will occur close to sunset, making a clear western horizon especially important.

Science fiction or terrifying prophecy?

John Wyndham’s The Day of the Triffids was published in 1951 and opens with one of science fiction’s most memorable warnings.

In the story, people around the world gather outside to watch an extraordinary meteor shower, described as a spectacular once-in-a-lifetime display. Anyone who watches is then confronted by a terrifying consequence: the following morning, most of the world’s population has been blinded.

Wyndham’s story is, of course, science fiction, and there is no suggestion that Wednesday’s solar eclipse could cause anything remotely like that. Yet the opening still feels uncomfortably relevant as millions of people prepare to look towards the sky. This time, the danger is real but much simpler to avoid.

Take care of your eyes, check your eclipse glasses carefully and make sure your family knows not to look directly at the Sun without proper protection on Wednesday evening.