Mask fogging up your glasses? Here’s how to fix that

Gulf Today Report

We have all made quite a lot of lifestyle changes since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends the public to wear face masks when going out but, if you wear glasses, it tends to fog up the glass every time you breathe.

That can get annoying very fast.

Luckily, there are ways to prevent condensation on your glasses while still following the CDC’s guidelines on how to properly wear face masks. So here are a few methods to help you maintain a clear view while wearing glasses and a face mask.

Soap and water

Before wearing the face mask, wash the spectacles with soapy water and shake off the excess. Then let the glasses air dry or gently clean the lenses with a soft tissue before putting them on. The soapy water creates a thin surfactant film that temporarily prevents the surface tension that causes glasses to fog up from the breaths directed upward by face masks.

It’s not a permanent solution, however, and must be repeated a few times a day. Woodworkers who have to wear safety goggles with dust masks have found that shaving cream is also effective in preventing condensation on glasses.

Anti-fog spray

Some chemical sprays stop moisture from collecting on your glasses. Competitive swimmers sometimes use similar sprays to prevent foggy goggles in the middle of a race. Like soap and water, these sprays are designed to keep condensation from sticking to lenses.

A quick word of caution: Be careful before putting chemicals near your eyes. Defogging your glasses isn’t worth causing irritations that could affect your vision in more serious ways.

A flexible ‘nose’

Some masks come with a metal nose clip that allows the wearer to limit the amount of moisture that comes in or out of the mask. If you’re sewing homemade masks, you can use flexible objects like bobby pins, paper clips or pipe cleaners to create a fitted “nose.” It’s worth mentioning that they should be fastened tightly to ensure they don’t come out and scratch your face.

Fold down part of the mask

Though this sounds like the easiest way to mitigate the problem, it’s not as simple as it sounds. Folding down the top quarter of a face mask provides extra space for your breath to escape before it hits your glasses. Keep in mind, though, that this doesn’t work in masks containing metal noses and more importantly, it reduces the area covered by the mask.

Folded tissues

Folding a tissue into a rectangle and connecting it to the mask so it stays on the bridge of your nose. The tissue blocks and absorbs some of the moisture escaping the mask to keep lenses clear.

Keeping the tissue in place can be tricky, and it’s vital to get it right the first time so you’re not constantly touching your face to adjust it. Thin tape — medical tape particularly — could work.