Six models of eclipse glasses were withdrawn from sale in Spain ahead of the solar eclipse on August 12, 2026. Safety alerts issued across five autonomous communities named products from Lionstar, ECP Eye Care Proffesional, Pelispan, Homanage, Orro and Opticalia.
The alerts focused on filters described as excessively dark. If users lift or remove the glasses while still facing the Sun, their eyes can be exposed to intense visible, ultraviolet and infrared radiation. Direct solar viewing can damage the retina. The resulting solar retinopathy may cause blurred vision, dark or blind spots, and reduced visual acuity, with symptoms that may not appear immediately.
Brands and Models Affected
The Ministry of Social Rights, Consumer Affairs and Agenda 2030 listed the affected products in the national alert network. Measures vary by region and product, from sales bans and market withdrawals to stock immobilization and recovery of units already sold. The six listed products are:
- Pelispan (no model specified): Galicia, withdrawal and consumer recall
- Homanage QW-50Z1: Galicia, inclusion in the alert network
- Orro O37-R, batch 2603-01, manufactured in March 2026: La Rioja, ban and withdrawal
- Opticalia GP0247: Aragón, immobilization and withdrawal
- ECP Eye Care Proffesional (no model specified): Castilla y León, withdrawal and ban
- Lionstar LSP1: Madrid, ban and immobilization
Consumers should check the brand against the exact model, reference, batch and manufacturing date. The alerts identify specific products, not necessarily every item sold under the same brand. The listings for ECP and Pelispan do not specify a model, so retaining the packaging and checking product details with the seller is especially impressive.
Why Overly Dark Filters Are Dangerous
The alerts describe filters with light transmission below the required minimum, making them appear almost opaque. Users who struggle to see through a viewer may be tempted to adjust or remove it while looking toward the Sun. Darkness alone, but, does not establish that a solar viewer is safe: visible-light reduction and protection against ultraviolet and infrared radiation are separate properties.
Solar viewers are designed to reduce visible, ultraviolet and infrared radiation to safe viewing levels. Ordinary sunglasses are not made for direct solar observation. Blue Coast Retina’s eye-safety guidance states that “Regular sunglasses, homemade filters and smoked glass do not protect the eyes.” The relevant standard for eclipse glasses and handheld solar viewers is ISO 12312-2. It does not apply to ordinary sunglasses.
What to Do If You Own These Glasses
Anyone who identifies a listed product should stop using it and avoid passing it on. Do not test eclipse glasses by looking directly at the Sun. To arrange a return or get information:
- Check the brand, model, reference, batch and manufacturing date.
- Keep the glasses, packaging, instructions and proof of purchase.
- Photograph identifying details before contacting the seller.
- Ask the retailer or distributor for instructions related to the alert.
- Consult the official RAPNA alert network for updates.
The stated consumer remedies include repair, replacement or refund, subject to the applicable conditions. The article also reports that free certified eclipse glasses would be distributed at hundreds of observation points across Spain. Anyone who notices visual changes after looking directly at the Sun should seek prompt evaluation by an ophthalmologist.
How to Check Eclipse Glasses Before Use
Eclipse glasses are personal protective equipment and should be made for direct solar viewing. Check for a genuine CE mark, the manufacturer’s identity, instructions in Spanish and conformity documentation, as well as the applicable ISO 12312-2 marking. Do not use viewers with scratches, holes, cracks, tears or filters separating from the frame, or products past their recommended lifespan.
For any partial eclipse, use certified eclipse glasses or an ISO 12312-2 handheld solar viewer throughout the observation. Inspect the viewer before use, and never look at the Sun through an unfiltered camera, binoculars or telescope. Ordinary sunglasses, X-ray film, smoked glass and homemade filters are not safe substitutes. During a total eclipse, naked-eye viewing is safe only during the brief period of totality and only within the path of totality. Put protection back on before any bright part of the Sun reappears.
Consumers can consult the official alert network and the Ministry of Consumer Affairs’ recommendations for product and viewing guidance. The August 12, 2026 eclipse has passed, but the safety rules apply to future solar eclipses as well: use an appropriate, undamaged viewer and never rely on ordinary sunglasses or appearance alone.
