Eclipse glasses sell out across Monaco pharmacies
By Zak Jackson, MonacoViews Editorial
Protective eyewear for the solar eclipse has sold out in several Monaco pharmacies, with residents urged to secure glasses before Tuesday's event.
Pharmacies across the Principality are reporting empty shelves as residents and visitors scramble for certified eclipse-viewing glasses ahead of the solar event on 12 August 2026. Several outlets confirmed they ran out of stock days before the eclipse, with staff turning away customers who had made the trip specifically to buy protective eyewear.
Ophthalmologists are clear on the risk: looking directly at a partial or total solar eclipse without ISO-certified filters causes irreversible retinal damage, often without any immediate pain to warn the observer. Standard sunglasses, however dark, offer no protection.
Anyone still searching for glasses should try larger pharmacies in the Fontvieille commercial area or cross into the Beausoleil and Cap d'Ail border communes, where stock may remain. Failing that, a simple pinhole projector made from card is a safe and effective alternative for watching the eclipse indirectly.