Eclipse glasses sold out across UK as chasers scramble

As Wednesday's solar eclipse approaches, eclipse enthusiasts across the UK are finding it nearly impossible to source certified viewing glasses. Specialist glasses meeting the ISO 12312-2 safety standard have sold out at most major retailers, with even the Royal Museums Greenwich — recommended by UK health officials as a reputable seller — having exhausted its stock due to an unprecedented volume of orders.

Demand far exceeds supply

In central London, bakeries and newsagents stocking eclipse glasses have reported selling out within hours. One staff member at a central London bakery told the BBC they had sold around 100 pairs in a single morning. Online, certified glasses that remain available require expensive next-day delivery fees or will not arrive until after the eclipse.

Some retailers have begun stocking glasses in unexpected locations to meet demand, while reports of uncertified products being sold at inflated prices have also surfaced.

Health risks of the eclipse

Health officials emphasise that looking directly at the sun — even for a fraction of a second — without ISO-certified glasses can cause permanent retinal damage. Ordinary sunglasses, dark goggles, and improvised filters are not safe substitutes. Those without certified glasses are advised to use indirect viewing methods such as pinhole cameras or colander projection.

The eclipse itself

Wednesday's partial eclipse is the UK's most significant since the total eclipse of 1999. People in parts of Spain, Greenland and Iceland will see a total solar eclipse — the complete disappearance of the sun's disc behind the moon — while UK observers will experience a partial eclipse, still a striking astronomical event. Find out how to watch safely using household items if you have no glasses.