Covid 19 is still very much a part of our everyday lives. With that comes the PPE that we are all constantly travelling with. As anyone who wears glasses can attest to, one of the biggest annoyances with wearing a mask is fogging glasses. The good news is that there are some things you can do to minimize that as much as possible!
- Using soap and water!
In general, the soap and water combination cleans germs and other debris off of lenses, but the soap also leaves behind an invisible film that makes it harder for your lenses to fog up. When using this method, lukewarm water and dish soap (Dawn, Palmolive, etc) is the best combination. Soap and water are typically safe for both frames and lenses.
- Proper mask position!
When wearing a mask, all sides should be in contact with your face. The top should sit comfortably on the top of your nose, pinched in with some sort of nose strip, the bottom should be under your chin and both sides should be snug against your cheeks. When the top of the mask is ill-fitting, it allows for the warm air from your body to escape upwards, creating the fog on the backside of your lenses. The better the fit, the less fogging you should experience!
- Tape it down or use a tissue!
If your mask is snug but air keeps escaping and fogging up your lenses, try using medical grade tape and taping the top of the mask down on your nose and cheeks. Alternatively, taking a tissue and having it sit on your nose and cheeks, just under where the mask connects to the top of your face can also help. This will create a barrier between the air and the lenses to prevent most of the fogging.
- Wear your glasses over your mask!
It almost sounds counter-productive as the mask is closer to the lenses but with the lenses resting closer to the mask, it may allow the air flow to go around the lenses rather than directly onto the backside. Consider wearing the mask a little bit higher on your face to give it a try.
- Invest in anti-fog lenses or anti-fog spray coating!
There are a ton of anti-fog sprays and wipes on the market that are shown to be effective and can be a quick fix. We have one that is made by Zeiss ($18.99 plus tax) and it involves a special cloth and spray that you use on clean lenses. Alternatively, many companies are starting to develop anti-fog coatings that can be incorporated on a brand new pair of lenses for your glasses. Shamir has developed one of the first anti-fog coatings on the market with 100% satisfaction. The coating prevents fogging from happening in the first place without having to worry about all the above tips and tricks. We do offer this in our clinic as an inexpensive add on to new lenses (less than $20)! Ask us about it today
Written by: Rebecca Patterson CCOA
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