Spain recalls six eclipse glasses models over risk of serious eye injuries

With three days to go before the solar eclipse, Spanish authorities have detected and withdrawn from the market almost 100 pairs of glasses that were being sold for viewing the phenomenon but did not meet the required safety standards.

The affected glasses are from the brands Lionstar, ECP Eye Care Proffesional, Pelispan, Homenaje, Orro and Opticalia. According to the authorities, the products did not properly display the ISO 12312-2:2015 certification, which is required to ensure adequate eye protection when observing a solar eclipse.

Some of the products also failed to provide important information such as an expiry date or the level of protection against ultraviolet radiation.

At the same time, Spanish consumer authorities have ordered the withdrawal of six models of glasses considered potentially dangerous and distributed at different locations across Spain.

The risk of using unsuitable eclipse glasses

One of the main problems detected is that some of the models have an excessively dark filter. This could lead users to remove the glasses during the eclipse because they cannot see clearly enough, exposing their eyes directly to solar radiation.

Such exposure can cause serious damage to the retina and potentially result in permanent vision problems.

Authorities stress that non-compliant models represent only a minority of the eclipse glasses currently available on the market. Nevertheless, consumers are advised to take precautions before using any product to observe the solar eclipse.

The main recommendation is to check that the glasses comply with the relevant safety regulations and carry the ISO 12312-2:2015 certification before using them.

Authorities also remind the public that ordinary sunglasses are not suitable for looking directly at the Sun and that only products specifically designed and certified for solar observation should be used.