Solar eclipse sparks scramble for protective glasses across Europe

A total solar eclipse is approaching Europe on Wednesday, prompting a desperate scramble for protective glasses across the continent. Pharmacies, opticians and other shops are struggling to keep up with the overwhelming demand. In Spain, where parts of the country will experience totality, many distribution points have run out of certified protective glasses.

Madrid's National Museum of Natural Sciences has exhausted its supply, as have some pharmacies in central Madrid, selling certified glasses for between €3-€4 ($4.60) a pair. However, Barcelona's Carles Sisquella reports his store has been out of stock for 10 days. Doctors warn that looking directly at the Sun during a solar eclipse can cause permanent eye damage.

In Brussels, where about 90 percent of the Sun will be covered by the Moon, people are also racing to find glasses. Arno Dossogne, a pastry chef, managed to secure glasses at a small opticians store that received a last-minute shipment. France, where the eclipse will be partial, has seen some pharmacies completely stripped of supplies, while others are charging significantly more.

Customers have been lining up outside Paris' La Pharmacie du Soleil, only to be disappointed by empty shelves. The pharmacist has promised another shipment of 500 pairs, which arrived that evening. Philippe Besset, president of France's Federation of Pharmaceutical Trade Unions, says demand has been far greater than expected.