UK households have been warned not to risk permanent eye damage by trying to save as little as £5 on protective glasses ahead of Wednesday’s partial solar eclipse. A partial solar eclipse will be visible across the country, reaching its maximum at 7.12pm in London.
Official safety advice
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has cautioned that looking directly at the sun without proper protection can cause irreversible harm to eyesight. It advises people not to use eclipse glasses unless they are certain the products are correctly certified, and to avoid any that are damaged. Those without suitable eye protection should view the event indirectly, for example with a pinhole viewer.
Demand for eclipse glasses is expected to spike in the final hours before the event. Consumers who leave it late may turn to unfamiliar online sellers or pay inflated prices. Experts say the rush creates openings for counterfeiters and unscrupulous traders.
Counterfeit risks online
Tamzin Burch, marketing manager at Corsearch, said counterfeiters exploit sudden spikes in demand. She said: “Major events like a solar eclipse can create exactly that opportunity. Bad actors can move quickly, using online marketplaces and misleading claims to sell products that appear legitimate but may not meet required safety standards.
“When the product is designed to protect someone’s health, counterfeiting becomes more than a brand or IP issue – it becomes a consumer safety issue. Fake eclipse glasses could give consumers a dangerous sense of security when looking directly at the sun. Consumers should follow official safety guidance and purchase protective products from trusted, verifiable sources.”
Daniel Mohacek, chief executive of review authenticity platform TruthEngine, said it was not worth the risk of buying a dodgy pair online. He explained: “Events like this create exactly the sort of sudden surge in demand that scammers and unscrupulous sellers can try to exploit.
“People searching online at the last minute may be presented with products that look legitimate, carry convincing claims and have glowing reviews, but that does not necessarily mean they are safe. When something is designed to protect your eyesight, consumers need to be particularly cautious. Don’t simply choose a pair because it has thousands of five-star reviews or because the product description says it is ‘certified’.
“Look carefully at who is actually selling it, whether the seller can be identified and whether the safety claims can be verified. Fake and misleading reviews are another reason to be careful. If anything about the seller, reviews or safety claims looks suspicious, it simply isn’t worth taking the risk with your eyesight.”
High street and livestream concerns
Marty Bauer, an ecommerce expert at Omnisend, noted that major platforms had largely sold out, with many orders unable to be fulfilled until after the event. Britons may have to turn to the high street or local events, where glasses could sell for four or five times the usual price.
Marijus Briedis, chief technology officer at NordVPN, highlighted the livestream risk. During the 2024 North American eclipse, scammers created fake SpaceX streams featuring a deepfake of Elon Musk; one drew around 95,000 viewers and directed people via QR code to a fraudulent cryptocurrency site.
He said: “The technology has only become more convincing since then. People should be suspicious if a supposedly free eclipse stream asks them to create an account, enter payment details, scan a QR code or download anything before they can watch.”
Samuel Mather-Holgate, managing director and independent financial adviser at Swindon-based Mather and Murray Financial, said a cheap online bargain could have life-changing consequences. He said: “With the weather looking good across much of the country, visibility could be excellent and millions of people may be tempted to look up.
“The danger with fake eclipse glasses is that people may actually stare at the sun for longer because they believe they’re protected. Retinal damage can happen without pain, and by the time you realise something is wrong, the damage could be permanent.
“If you’re buying glasses online, this isn’t the moment to take a punt on an unknown seller to save a few quid. Make sure they’re genuine, properly certified eclipse glasses meeting ISO 12312-2, or use a safe indirect viewing method instead. Saving £5 isn’t worth gambling with your eyesight.”
