The former member of Ciudadanos in the Parliament of Andalusia, Mercedes López, strongly warns against looking at the sun during a Solar eclipse without suitable protection. According to her own account, she suffered central vision loss of around 90 per cent as a child after looking at an eclipse without protection. The effects are irreversible, she said, ahead of the forthcoming solar eclipse on 12 August 2026.
Context: López was a member of the liberal party Ciudadanos in the Parliament of Andalusia. The immediate occasion is an astronomical event that will be visible across Spain on 12 August 2026: in many regions the eclipse will be partial, while in the north the sun will be completely obscured towards the end of the day. In Andalusia the phenomenon is currently expected to be visible only as a partial eclipse.
Medical context: Specialists from ophthalmology and health authorities warn that looking directly at the sun can cause acute and permanent retinal damage. Only specially certified eclipse glasses that comply with standard EN ISO 12312-2 are considered safe. Ordinary sunglasses, tinted film, smoked glass and makeshift filters do not provide adequate protection. Glasses should be used only if their filters are undamaged; telescopes, binoculars and cameras also require suitable certified lens filters.
Official guidance: Ahead of the event, Spanish institutions have distributed information on safe viewing, possible counterfeit products and the correct use of protective glasses. They recommend closely supervising children, checking the glasses before each use and strictly limiting direct viewing of the sun.
Distinguishing facts, attributions and forecasts: – Facts: Mercedes López has said in media appearances that she has had around 90 per cent vision loss since childhood as a result of looking at a solar eclipse without protection. A solar eclipse will be visible in Spain on 12 August 2026; the sun will be completely obscured in the north and partially obscured elsewhere. – Attributions: López describes the effects as irreversible. This assessment is consistent with expert warnings that light-induced retinal injuries can be permanent. – Forecasts: Whether there will be an increase in eye injuries around the event depends on people’s behaviour and the quality of the products used; no reliable figures are available in advance.
Editor: Andreas M. Brucker (Article created with AI assistance).