Clearing the Fog: 8 Tips to Keep your Glasses Clear

Facemasks and glasses, a common combination during these Covid-19 pandemic days, but this is not always a happy partnership.

When warm moist air hits a cool surface, condensation forms. In this case, warm breath escapes from the top of your mask, landing on the cooler surface of your safety glasses and before you know it, fogged-up eyewear.

The following tips can help keep your safety eye wear clear.

• Make sure you fit your face mask properly to your face. If it doesn’t fit your face well, warm air is likely to escape and fog up your lenses.

• When putting your mask on, make sure to pinch the top of the mask to mold it to the shape of your nose. If your mask allows it, tighten the side straps as well.

• Wash the lenses with soapy water and either let them air dry or gently wipe the lenses with a soft tissue before putting them back on. The residue from the soap will stop them misting up. However this only a temporary fix and will need to be repeated several times a day.

• Use anti-fog spray. Some sprays are designed stop moisture from collecting on your glasses. But make sure you use a commercial spray that won’t irritate your eyes and won’t damage any protective coatings on your lenses.

• You can use medical or athletic tape to close the gap between the bridge of your nose and the top of your mask. Alternatively, placing double-sided tape between the inside of the mask and the bridge of your nose will create a better seal, but you may end up with a sticky nose. Make sure you only use tape that is designed for contact with the skin (not parcel or duct tape).

• If you are one of those talented people who make homemade masks, you can use flexible objects like pipe cleaners or twist ties to create a fitted nose. Only use plastic coated ties if the mask is going to be washed and make sure these are secured to the mask (stitched into the top seam) so they don’t become loose and scratch your face.

• A quick temporary fix can be gained by folding a tissue into a rectangle and placing it on the inside of the mask, across the bridge of your nose. The tissue blocks and absorbs some of the moisture escaping. It can look a bit odd though, and eventually the tissue will get soggy.

• Adjust your glasses so that they rest on the top of the mask. This will help stop the air from escaping upwards and prevent fogging. You will need to make sure your mask still fits properly over your face.

Unfortunately there is no guaranteed fix for this, but the tips above have all had some level of success. Give them a try and see which one works best for you.