One recites the Beracha of Birkat Ha’hama upon seeing the sun in the original position in which it was placed at the time of creation. If a person wears eyeglasses, corrective lenses or sunglasses, he does not have to remove them before reciting the Beracha; he is considered as seeing the sun directly even though he views it through his glasses or lenses. This is the ruling of Hacham Ovadia Yosef, in his work Yehave Da’at (vol. 4, 18:10). He adds that one may even recite the Beracha after seeing the sun through binoculars.
However, one may not recite the Beracha if he only sees the sun’s reflection, rather than the sun itself. Hacham Ovadia writes (listen to audio recording for precise citation) that one who sees the sun’s reflection in a mirror or in water may not recite the Beracha, because he did not see the sun itself.
Rav Haim Palachi (Turkey, 1788-1869), in his work Kaf Ha’haim (35:23), writes that after one recites Birkat Ha’hama, he should, if possible, look at somebody named Abraham. The Sages teach that Abraham is likened to the sun, and it is therefore proper to look upon somebody with that name while reciting the Beracha over the sun. (Similarly, as Yishak is compared to the moon, one should try to look upon a person with that name after reciting the Birkat Ha’lebana over the moon each month.)
Summary: One may recite Birkat Ha’hama after viewing the sun through glasses, lenses or binoculars, but not after viewing only a reflection of the sun. It is proper, if possible, to look upon a person named Abraham after reciting Birkat Ha’hama.
