Order to withdraw six models of glasses two days before the solar eclipse due to risk of retinal injuries

Consumer authorities have ordered the withdrawal from the market of six models of glasses for observing the solar eclipse on August 12 due to the risk that their use may cause eye injuries. Alerts have been issued by the administrations of Madrid, Castilla y León, Galicia, La Rioja, and Aragón.

FACUA-Consumidores en Acción warned this Monday that the affected products belong to the brands Lionstar, ECP Eye Care Professional, Pelispan, Homanaje, Orro, and Opticalia. The measures include, depending on each case, the withdrawal of units, their immobilization, and the prohibition of their continued commercialization.

The warnings identify the glasses Lionstar LSP1, Homanaje QW-50Z1, and Orro O37-R, the latter corresponding to lot 2603-01 and manufactured in March 2026. They also affect products from ECP Eye Care Professional, Pelispan, and Opticalia whose specific models are not detailed in the information released by FACUA.

The irregularity is the same in all six cases. The filter lets through less light than recommended and is excessively dark, so the user may see total darkness and have difficulty finding the solar disk.

The danger appears if the person slides the glasses towards their forehead, tilts them, or removes them for a few seconds to locate the Sun. In that brief interval, the eyes are directly exposed to visible, infrared, and ultraviolet radiation, which can cause chemical or thermal injuries to retinal cells.

The first alerts were registered on July 29 for Pelispan and Homanaje products. Then came those corresponding to Orro, Opticalia, and ECP Eye Care Professional. The Community of Madrid incorporated the Lionstar LSP1 glasses into the state network of dangerous non-food products on August 5.

The campaign coordinated by the Ministry of Consumer Affairs has detected, despite these withdrawals, a high degree of compliance among the glasses analyzed. Inspections have not found widespread deficiencies in materials, frames, or protection against ultraviolet and infrared radiation.

How to observe the eclipse without risking your eyesight

Consumer Affairs recommends purchasing glasses in specialized establishments, official channels, or distributors endorsed by scientific entities. Products must include the CE mark and ISO 12312-2:2015 certification, the only one considered valid for direct observation of the Sun.

Glasses must be kept on during the entire partial phase of the eclipse, also before and after totality. Conventional sunglasses, X-rays, smoked glass, homemade discs or filters lack sufficient protection, even if they appear very dark.

Cameras, binoculars, and telescopes need specific solar filters placed on the instrument itself. Consumer Affairs also asks to exercise extreme vigilance over children, the elderly, and any user who may accidentally remove the protection. If the glasses offer a more reduced vision than expected, they should never be moved or removed while looking at the Sun.