Wondering how to avoid your glasses fogging up while wearing your protective face mask? There are over 143 million people in the world who wear eyeglasses to correct their vision. If you are one of them, you have probably noticed that face masks and glasses don’t work well together, especially in the colder weather. Foggy glasses constantly throughout the day! Argh!!!
Tips & Tricks to Prevent Your Glasses From Fogging Up
Relax! While we can’t control what’s going on around us, Eye Care of Delaware can offer some tips and tricks to help reduce how often your glasses fog up, while still following the CDC guidelines on how to properly wear face masks.
1. Be Sure to Wear Your Face Mask Properly
To help ensure your safety and the safety of those around you, it is important to wear your face covering properly. A mask that is too loose can lead to foggy glasses, and also expose you to harmful pathogens. Additionally, a mask that is uncomfortable or requires a lot of adjustment can result in touching your face more often, increasing the spread of germs.
A face covering that securely and comfortably covers both your nose and mouth will reduce these risks.
2. A Good Fit, With a Nose Bridge
Masks made with a flexible nosepiece that can be molded around the bridge of your nose for a more personalized fit will help prevent glasses from fogging up. Less warm air will escape from the area, creating less lens fog.
3. Tape
Try placing a small piece of tape just along the bridge of your nose (and even to your cheeks) to seal the top of the mask. But you don’t want to use duct tape or a tape that will irritate your skin. If you have sensitive skin, before applying to your face, test different types of tape beforehand on other skin areas. Medical grade, double-stick fabric tape or sports tapes are the most commonly used, or you can use tape that was made for sensitive skin.
3. Place a Tissue Under Your Face Covering
Placing a folded tissue under your face mask and along the bridge of your nose can help absorb excess moisture. Experiment with different folding methods and shapes before wearing it outside, to ensure it fits properly. Once you have found an arrangement that works best for you, tape the tissue in place so you’re not constantly adjusting it or needing to touch your face or mask.
4. Wash the Lenses of Your Glasses With Soap and Water
Washing your glasses with warm soapy water and letting them air-dry has been found to help reduce lens fog. The soap leaves behind a thin film that repels the moisture and acts as a fog barrier. This is just a temporary fix and you may need to repeat it throughout the day.
If you have special coatings on the lenses of your glasses, you’ll need to check with your optician before using soap and water on these lenses.
5. Shop Around
If nothing seems to be working for you, there are wipes and sprays available that were designed for foggy glasses. Again, make sure the ingredients won’t damage any protective coatings on your lenses. And take the time to read some product reviews.
6. Refractive Eye Surgery
Consider refractive eye surgery to reduce or eliminate your dependence on glasses altogether. At Eye Care of Delaware, we offer several types of refractive surgery. Those who are not good candidates for LASIK or PRK have other options.
Your Eye Health Is Our Priority
At Eye Care of Delaware, it’s important to us that your eyes are healthy and taken care of. It’s much easier to take care of your eyes from the onset of a vision issue than reverse damage that has been done. Call us at 302-454-8800 today or contact us online to schedule a free eye screening. You’ll find out what type of refractive surgery is best for you.