A few hacks to prevent eye glasses from fogging while wearing your mask.
- Make sure your face covering fits well. It is helpful to have a mask that is adjustable. I have found that my mask needs to be slightly tighter when I am wearing glasses. It may be best to try a nylon paracord or bungee elastic tie for better fit if tightening the ear-loops becomes uncomfortable.
- Purchase a mask with a nose wire to ensure a good fit around your nose. Most of the leaked air that causes fogging comes up from around your nose at the top of the mask.
- Always put your glasses on over your mask, after you have ensured that the nose wire is properly adjusted and there is minimum airspace. Wearing your eyeglasses this way helps to ‘seal’ the top of your mask.
- When moving between cold and warm environments, simply pull down on the chin of your mask to allow some air to escape. Make sure you wash or disinfect your hands after touching your mask.
- In a pinch try moving your eyeglasses further down your nose. This temporary solution allows the moist air to avoid contact with your lenses, and usually works well enough for me.
- Wash your lenses with warm (not hot) soapy water and shake off the excess liquid. You can allow your lenses to air dry or gently wipe them off with a soft cloth. The soap leaves behind a thin film that disperses the water molecules and acts as a fog barrier. Make sure you don’t use soap with additives like skin softeners/lotion. These can ruin your lenses. If you have special coatings on your lenses (or are unsure), check with your optician first.
- Some eye glasses wearers have success with a small piece of tissue folded up and placed under the mask at the nose. The tissue will absorb excess moisture. I would try paper towel before tissue, as it is much less dusty.
- Some healthcare professionals use scotch or medical tape to seal the top edge of the mask to your face. I cannot imagine this would be very comfortable. You may rather put up with a little fog unless you are doing life or death stuff. Like surgery.
- There are anti-fog pastes and sprays available. These have to be reapplied every 3-5 days. I have not tried any of these, so cannot personally recommend any one brand. It is best to check with your optician on suggested brands. Check reviews.
- Talk to your optician about getting an anti-fog coating on your next pair of eyeglasses. The coating is usually applied to the lenses before they are cut to fit into your frame at the lab.
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Why Cotton?
See Use & Care of your cotton face mask here:
Use & Care
