Published • loading... • Updated
Eclipse chasers scramble for glasses as stocks run low
Retailers and resorts are handing out free glasses as demand surges, while experts warn that uncertified viewers can still cause permanent eye damage.
- On Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2026, the Royal Observatory Greenwich sold out of approximately 15,000 ISO-certified eclipse glasses due to unprecedented demand, leaving long queues and widespread shortages across London ahead of the partial solar eclipse.
- Local retailers like Free Spirit Psychic Shop saw hundreds queue for hours starting at 7 a.m., with owner Warren Starling describing demand as far exceeding expectations and sparking a secondary market where individuals sold spare pairs for $54 each.
- Health experts and NASA warn that viewing the sun without ISO 12312-2 certified protection causes permanent eye damage to the retina. Many residents adopted safe indirect viewing methods, such as using colanders to observe eclipse shadows on the ground.
- Reuters reported a 650 per cent spike in UK searches for 'sore eyes' following the eclipse, while optometrists urge anyone experiencing visual distortion or blurred central vision to seek prompt medical assessment for potential solar retinopathy.
- The Royal Observatory Greenwich characterized this event as Britain's most significant eclipse since 1999, noting that the next phenomenon of similar magnitude will not occur until 2081, which fueled intense public interest in securing protective eyewear.
Insights by Ground AI
267 Articles
267 Articles
Total solar eclipse August 12, 2026: Best images
Total solar eclipse August 12! Whether you saw it or not from your location, you can experience it! See the best images from our community here. The post Total solar eclipse August 12, 2026: Best images first appeared on EarthSky.
·Austin, United States
Read Full Article
In anticipation of tonight's solar eclipse, thousands of curious people had gathered at the Masthugg Church lookout. But the protective glasses that the Slottsskog Observatory had brought to hand out weren't enough.
·Gothenburg, Sweden
Read Full ArticleCoverage Details
Total News Sources267
Leaning Left42Leaning Right36Center80Last UpdatedBias Distribution51% Center
Bias Distribution
- 51% of the sources are Center
51% Center
L 26%
C 51%
R 23%
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
