Yes, wearing a mask can be uncomfortable and frustrating. We risk acne and makeup melting off our faces. It’s a struggle, but the biggest struggle is for those wearing glasses. Every time they put on their masks, their glasses start fogging up and they can hardly see anything. And, unfortunately, this is my personal experience too. I have to choose between the lesser of two evils: either protect myself and the people around me while having reduced vision, or walk around unprotected and have good sight. As annoying and not practical as a mask is, nobody wants to take the risk of getting infected with Covid. For your own (and others) safety, here are some tips on how to wear a face-mask without your glasses fogging up!
Why do glasses fog up?
As you breathe out, your warm breath shoots upwards out the top of your mask. When the warm breath hits the relatively cool surface of you glasses, the result will be fog.
Tips on how to prevent your glasses from fogging up while wearing a mask
Having to keep taking off your glasses to wipe them clear and putting them back on again is an infection risk. You may be surprised, but the solution is a lot easier than you think! Just follow a few rules and you can say ‘bye-bye’ to fogged up glasses.
#1 Choose a well-fitting face mask
In general, a mask that’s not well-fitted can be inconvenient, but those wearing glasses will end up with condensation. Make sure your mask has nose bridges sewn into it. Nose bridges are flexible strips that allow you to bend and shape them so they fit your nose. These nose bridges have several purposes: they make the masks more effective, because less moisture can escape. They make the masks more comfortable, and they help prevent your breath from hitting your glasses.
What if your on fleek mask doesn’t have its own nose bridge, but you want to keep wearing it? Amazon sells nose bridge wires that you can sew in to any mask.
#2 Tighten your mask with the ear loops
If your mask doesn’t fit tightly, you can adjust it yourself. If you have enough slack in the ear loops, try twisting them into an X-shape and then putting them around your ears. Your breath can now escape through the sides of your mask and won’t hit your glasses and cause steam. Just make sure you don’t tie the loops so tight that you’ll get red marks behind your ears!
#3 Put your glasses over your mask
The easiest trick! Just pull up your mask so the top sits higher on you nose. Then wear your glasses on top of the material. Just make sure you don’t wear your mask to high up your nose so your mouth will not be fully covered.
#4 Wash your glasses with soap and water
If your glasses don’t have a special coating, you can try washing them with just soapy water and then wiping them dry. There’s a film of soap that’s left over which might reduce the risk of fogging. Glasses get foggy because of the surface tension between the water molecules in your breath. The thin film left behind by soapy water reduces the surface tension and causes the water molecules to spread out evenly. Please note it is best to use good old-fashioned dish soap or basic hand soap! Anything that is for sensitive skin or that contains lotion might get stuck to your lenses and smear. And smeary lenses is not something to look forward to!
#5 Switch to contact lenses
If none of the above tips are helpful, it might be worth switching to contacts for the time being. It may sound a bit silly, but contact lenses are the most fuss-free option to avoid foggy glasses. Just be sure to wash your hands thoroughly before inserting or removing them. Unfortunately, contacts are not suitable for everyone. Always contact you eye doctor or optician first to discuss the possibilities before you run to the shops!
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