Pharmacies in Marseille are selling out of protective solar eclipse glasses as residents prepare for the rare celestial event on Wednesday, August 12.
The solar eclipse has not been observed for 27 years, making protective eyewear one of the most sought-after items. Valérie de Lécluse, manager of a pharmacy in Marseille, said she sold 100 pairs of specialized glasses in a single day. She explained that high demand as the deadline approaches has driven up wholesale prices between her first order in July and her second, adding that prices will likely increase further.
The glasses cost between 2 and 6 euros, leaving buyers with only a few days to find them. Passersby in the street reported difficulty getting pairs, with one noting that people are told it is dangerous without glasses but do not know where to buy them. Another passerby realized she had not bought any yet, while a third said buyers should get standard-compliant glasses from reliable businesses due to the specific radiation involved.
Checking Standards and Buying Safely
Health advice recommends purchasing glasses from pharmacies or opticians rather than street vendors, markets, or online sellers that might offer non-protective fake glasses. Buyers should check for CE and ISO logos and ensure instructions are written in French.
Avi Sfadj, an optician at Mood Optic in Marseille, emphasized that glasses must be worn throughout the eclipse. Sfadj said the eclipse will last nearly 1.5 to 2 hours, warning that even when the moon hides almost the entire sun, visible light, harmful ultraviolet rays, and infrared radiation remain dangerous.
Free Distribution and Old Glasses Warning
In some cities, including Marseille, 3,000 pairs of glasses will be distributed for free.
The Paris Observatory urged people to throw away old pairs from 1999 or the 2000s. The observatory warned that protective filters naturally deteriorate over time, making older glasses a major safety risk.
