If you wear spectacles, you must have experienced the innocuous problem of glasses fogging up when you step out of an air conditioned room. However, you may be facing this problem more often while wearing a face mask. But why does that happen? Well, when you wear a mask, breath escapes up to your glasses, causing glasses to steam up, making it difficult to see clearly. However, this doesn’t mean that you should avoid wearing a face mask. There are no two ways that it’s important to wear a mask, even if you’ve been vaccinated against COVID-19, or have recovered from the infection.
Wearing a mask is crucial to prevent the spread of COVID-19
Follow these tips curated by our eye specialists on wearing eyeglasses with a face mask:
1. Keep the lenses clean: Clean the lenses with a regular lens cleaning solution that comes with glasses. Doing so helps in creating a thin film on the surface of the lens that prevents the lens from fogging up. If you don’t have any lens cleaning solution, wash the spectacles in soapy water and then rinse them with clean water. You can also use an anti-fogging solution before wearing the eyeglasses.
Note: Do not use products that aren’t formulated for eyewear. Products such as toothpaste and vinegar may damage the coatings on the lenses.
2. Dry the glasses properly: Before wearing the eyeglasses again, gently dry with a soft cloth. Do not use a paper towel to dry the lenses as it can leave scratch marks.
3. Fit your mask to your face: The warm air escapes and fog up your lenses when the mask is loose. When putting on your mask, make the top of the mask fit the shape of your nose. Use self-adhesive nose bridge pads or pins to close the gap between the bridge of the nose and the top of your mask. Using pins or pads will ensure that the mask is snuggly fit. Make sure you use well-fitted masks such as the ones that come with adjustable frames.
4. Adjust the position of your glasses: Push the glasses forward on your nose. This will allow more air to circulate and prevent your breath from fogging up the glasses.
5. Position the mask correctly: Pull the mask up over your nose and rest your glasses on top of it. This will block the air from escaping and prevent fogging.
6. Use anti-fog wipes: You can also use single-use anti-fog wipes to keep your glasses streak-free, safe, and fog-free.
Note: Many people often use hand sanitizer to clean their spectacles. However, they must realize that hand sanitizer are an effective anti-fog agent only in a hospital setting where surgical goggles are used. Alcohol in hand sanitizers can damage the protective coatings of the standard eyewear.
Having trouble with your vision? Book online consultation with an eye specialist
Disha Eye Hospitals are leading eye hospitals in West Bengal. We specialise in all eye care, including LASIK and cataract surgery. Our eye specialists with the help of the latest techniques and equipment offer best patient care possible. You can book an online consultation with our eye specialist or visit our branches in-person.