WhatsApp ‘drops’, price hikes and queues: scramble for solar eclipse specs

A secretive WhatsApp group was buzzing with notifications on Wednesday, informing its members about the locations in London where the highly anticipated "drop" of eclipse glasses would occur. The glasses were in great demand as people prepared for a near-total solar eclipse that would be visible across western Europe for the first time in over 25 years. However, viewing the phenomenon without proper eye protection can cause serious damage to the retina.

Long queues formed outside corner shops in London during the early hours, as eager customers rushed to secure the limited supply of glasses. The price of the glasses had skyrocketed, with many shops charging double the original £5 price. Some entrepreneurs even set up makeshift stalls, selling the glasses for £10 each outside Whitechapel tube station and promising to sell out at £20 a pair.

The scramble for the glasses caused some tensions to flare up. One corner shop owner, Ali Raza, from the AM2PM convenience store in Whitechapel, appealed to members of the WhatsApp group, urging them to be respectful to employees and customers. Raza had turned away numerous people throughout the day, with a delivery from Spain arriving just moments before the store sold out of its stock at 9.30 am.

The Royal Greenwich Observatory had already sold more than 15,000 pairs of glasses in the previous month and had since run out. Exmoor national park also found itself without the glasses, as their supplier failed to meet the demand before the eclipse. Sunglass Hut branches were forced to post signs indicating they no longer sold eclipse glasses due to the overwhelming number of customers seeking them.

Experts warn that looking at the solar eclipse without proper eye protection can lead to permanent damage to the retina. While the risk is not as great as under normal conditions, the increased risk arises because people are more inclined to stare at the sun when it is partially obscured. Symptoms of eye damage may not manifest immediately, and it can take days for individuals to notice any visual impairments.

Counterfeit glasses also pose a threat, as they can potentially cause harm while attempting to view the eclipse. Kyla Black, Boots Opticians' director of optical practice, cautions that it is not worth taking the risk with one's eyesight, urging people to use certified eclipse glasses that adhere to the international ISO 12312-2 safety standard.