• Published

People across Scotland have been frantically scrambling to find the right kind of protective eyewear as the UK prepares for the best view of a solar eclipse in nearly three decades.

Up to 95% of the Sun will slowly disappear behind the Moon on Wednesday evening, in the most dramatic partial eclipse visible from the UK since August 1999.

It is important never to look directly at the Sun as even brief exposure can cause lasting damage.

But most high street stores have sold out of eclipse glasses and online shoppers who track down a pair risk them not being delivered in time.

The Moon will start to move in front of the Sun in Scotland at about 18:00, with the whole event expected to last about two hours.

But even one glimpse at the Sun can be really dangerous.

Eclipse glasses offer protection from harmful rays of sunlight as the Sun can damage the retina and lead to vision problems.

Legitimate pairs will have safety certification ISO 12312-2 or ISO 12312-2:2015 printed somewhere on the glasses.

Previously, newspapers have given away free pairs for major events and school children have been pictured gazing up at the Sun wearing them.

Yet in Glasgow city centre on Tuesday, the specialist glasses were like gold dust.

Opticians said they had taken a lot of calls, with people desperately asking whether they had any eclipse glasses.

But customers have had no luck as many shops made the decision not to stock the protective eyewear.

In the store window of Specsavers on Argyle Street a sign read: "We do not sell glasses for watching the solar eclipse."

Giles Edmonds, clinical services director at Specsavers, said: "With the type of glasses required for viewing the eclipse, being a single-use item and designed for a relatively rare event, we've decided not to produce or supply them this time as it's not the most sustainable choice for us."

He added people should only buy genuine products from reputable sellers and not use an old pair of eclipse glasses until they have been checked for damage.

Multiple signs dotted on the shop window of specialised photography retailer Jessops shared the same message.

"Sorry, we are SOLD OUT of solar eclipse glasses," the notice read.

"To our knowledge, everywhere else is sold out too."

Staff at the Sauchiehall Street branch next to Buchanan Galleries said there had been a lot of interest in the glasses.

They added that they had been in stock for several months but have all been snapped up, with no more available.

Caitlin Fowler and Morgan Brand said they were excited and planned to go to Queen's Park to watch the solar eclipse on Wednesday evening.

But they have not located the kit for the event.

"I've not tried to find a pair of eclipse glasses because I have no idea where I would find them and I don't think there are many places that sold them," Caitlin said.

"I've read the safety information and it should be cheap and easy enough to make a pinhole projector."

"We've left it too late for Amazon Prime so I think DIY will be the way," Morgan added.

Douglas Rodger said his sister had managed to find a pair but he will be at work and will miss the celestial event.

"I heard on the news that someone had tried to buy eclipse glasses but they would not arrive until Friday," he said.

"I don't think it is worthwhile trying to get them and I've not seen anywhere I could have bought them."

Laura McPhee has travelled from Germany to Glasgow with her family for the World Pipe Band Championships, which takes place on Friday and Saturday.

"I heard Spain was the best place to watch it but as we are on holiday, I checked if you can see it in Scotland and it is possible," she said.

"I think the kids would love it but we don't have the glasses so I need to go out and have a look for them."

Laura remembers watching a solar eclipse when she was a child: "We all had the eclipse glasses and it was very exciting."

People elsewhere in Scotland are having similar problems sourcing eclipse glasses ahead of Wednesday's two-hour celestial event.

Camera Obscura and World of Illusions in Edinburgh posted on Facebook that it had sold out due to high demand.

But glasses have been reserved for visitors planning to watch from the visitor attraction's rooftop terrace available on a first-come, first-served, basis.

Paul Campbell, engagement officer at Leisure and Culture Dundee, said the organisation has sold 600 pairs of eclipse glasses ahead of a viewing event at Broughty Castle Museum.

"It's fantastic to see so much enthusiasm for this rare celestial spectacle and the chance to witness a moment that will be remembered for years to come," he said.

"We would remind everyone attending to bring approved eclipse viewing glasses and never look directly at the sun without certified eye protection."

Campbell added the majority of glasses were from a charity that the organisation had worked with previously at Dundee's Mills Observatory.

What can I do if I don't have eclipse glasses?

Regular sunglasses do not provide adequate protection from harmful sunlight.

Alternative methods for viewing the eclipse include using a solar telescope or making a pinhole projector.

"The next best thing is a colander," Astronomer Royal for Scotland Catherine Heymans said - or any household object with small holes.

The holes in the colander project an indirect image of the Sun on a surface, such as a wall or the ground.

"Normally the sunlight shines through the holes but during the eclipse, chunks will be eaten out of the Sun, and at the peak, it will just be the arc in the shadow of the colander," she explained.

People should also be careful when photographing the eclipse as the Sun can damage the camera on a phone the same way as it can damage the eyes.

Cameras can be protected with eclipse glasses.