HYERES: August 12 Eclipse – “In just a few days, the demand for glasses has literally exploded”
As the solar eclipse of August 12 approaches, pharmacies are facing an exceptional demand for protective glasses.
An enthusiasm that has accelerated sharply over the past few days, catching many professionals off guard.
“Until the end of last week, we had completely normal demand. Patients came to collect their glasses progressively, and nothing foreshadowed such an acceleration. Then, in the space of a few days, everything changed: calls multiplied, people sometimes came in large numbers, and we found ourselves facing extremely high demand, with stocks running out very quickly,” says Marion Cros, a pharmacist in Hyères.
For pharmacists, this situation is all the more unusual as the August 12 eclipse is far from a trivial event. It is the most significant solar eclipse visible in France since that of August 11, 1999. Depending on the region, more than 90% of the solar disc will be obscured, a phenomenon approaching 99.5% in the Southwest. And it will not be until 2081 that another total eclipse will be visible from metropolitan France.
“It is a true milestone in life. Many people still remember the 1999 eclipse and now wish to experience this one with their children or grandchildren. For some, it is probably an event they will see only once in their lifetime. We therefore perfectly understand this enthusiasm,” adds the young pharmacist.
Yet this late mobilization is now putting pharmacies under intense pressure. Shortages are affecting numerous points of sale, and replenishment options have become very limited just hours before the phenomenon.
“In hindsight, I think collectively we did not sufficiently anticipate the scale of the demand. We knew the eclipse was going to take place, of course, but we had not measured how much public interest would focus on the very last days. In pharmacies, we are used to managing peaks in attendance linked to epidemics or drug shortages. Here, it is very different: it is not sick people who are flocking, but entire families who simply want to experience an exceptional event in complete safety,” continues Marion Cros.
This safety remains precisely the essential message of pharmacists. Observing the Sun directly without proper equipment can cause serious damage to the retina. The glasses used must be specifically designed for solar observation and comply with the ISO 12312-2 standard. Classic sunglasses, even very dark ones, do not in any way constitute sufficient protection.
“Our role is therefore not only to sell or distribute glasses. It is also to raise awareness. Even when we unfortunately have no stock left, we must continue to remind people absolutely not to look directly at the Sun and not to improvise with unsuitable protection,” Mme Cros further specifies.
Beyond the rush of recent days, this eclipse will remain, above all, a rare, popular, and intergenerational moment.
“There is ultimately something quite beautiful in seeing so many people get excited about a natural phenomenon. We would simply have liked to anticipate this wave better so that everyone could enjoy it serenely. This experience must also serve us: when such an exceptional event is announced, prevention and anticipation must begin much earlier,” concludes the young woman with a broad smile.