On August 12, 2026, a large part of France will have its head turned towards the sky to follow the solar eclipse, almost total in the South-West and partial elsewhere. In the process, millions of pairs of eclipse glasses are being snapped up, but non-compliant models are already circulating, on newsstands and online. The Ministries of Economy and Health warn that watching the event with poor protection can leave irreversible after-effects.
Behind the alert, there is a concrete case: a booklet on newsstands, entitled Eclipse 2026, Premium special issuesold for 6.99 euros with a pair of cardboard glasses whose origin and conformity are unknown, reports the French Astronomical Association. During the total eclipse of 1999, more than 250 people with little or no protection subsequently presented damage to the cornea or retina, a figure reported by 60 Million consumers. The issue goes far beyond the simple disappointment of a failed purchase.
Why non-compliant eclipse glasses are so dangerous
In a joint press release, the Ministry of the Economy and the Ministry of Health recall that “Observing the Sun without appropriate protection or with non-compliant glasses can cause painless eye damage at the time of exposure, but potentially irreversible damage.“. There
DGCCRF adds that strong visible light can cause serious damage to the retina, up to burning or blindness. Classic sunglasses, 3D cinema glasses, smoke lenses or photo negatives do not filter enough for an eclipse.
Eclipse glasses are category II personal protective equipment, regulated by European Regulation 2016/425. To be safe, they must comply with the standard
EN ISO 12312-2:2015filter 100% of UV rays and bear the CE marking. Public Health France reminds that “the filter material degrades over time, losing its filtering power“, hence the ban on reusing glasses purchased for the 1999 eclipse or kept for years in a drawer.
Eclipse of August 12: the AFA alert and the wave of controls
It was upon coming across the booklet on newsstands that Alain Cirou, general director of the French Astronomy Association, sounded the alarm. “We were first alerted to a shortage of resources for eclipse glasses. Two months ago, there were few signals on orders and distribution in sufficient quantities for the moment of the eclipse“, he tells 20 Minutes. Faced with doubts about the conformity of the attached glasses, the AFA contacted the DGCCRFwhich has already checked nearly 90 professionals, according to the government press release.
How to choose and use your glasses for the August 12 eclipse
To limit the risks, Alain Cirou recommends: “Don’t buy just anything on the Internet!” And “You can trust the sellers: media houses, opticians, pharmacies, certain large distributors. These are compliant and known merchants“. The ministries advise checking four key mentions: CE marking, reference ISO 12312-2instructions in French and contact details of the manufacturer or importer.
During the eclipse, the DGCCRF recommends not looking at the Sun for more than three minutes in a row and consulting an ophthalmologist urgently or on the 15th if eyesight deteriorates.