How to stop your glasses from fogging while wearing a mask

It’s early morning on a cold winter’s day and you have to go to the grocery store to get a few supplies. Before you exit the house, you make sure that your mask is on your face. You open the door, take a deep breath of the crisp fresh air, and then it happens. As soon as you exhale, your glasses steam up as if you were wearing them in the shower.

Now you have two options, you could call your closest eye specialist in Johannesburg, book yourself in for laser vision correction and ditch the glasses all together. Or you can get creative with a few DIY options to mitigate the fogging. 

Before you book yourself in for that laser eye surgery, here are a few tips to stop the fog in the meantime:

Make Sure Your Glasses Are The Right Fit

Make sure your mask fits securely over your nose. With glasses, a mask with a nose bridge will keep warm air from exiting up to your glasses as opposed to other face coverings.

If you have a homemade mask, create a better fit for your glasses by sewing pipe cleaners or twist ties into the top of the mask so they fit your nose better.

Get A Mask With A Nose Bridge

If your mask fits loosely over your nose, then it’s almost certain that your breath is going to escape up onto your glasses. To avoid this, look for masks that come with a nose bridge sewn into it. A nose bridge is a flexible strip that lets you bend the top of your mask and shape it so it can fit your nose.

A nose bridge serves several purposes:

1. Make the masks more effective by allowing less moisture to escape from the top,

2. Make masks more comfortable, and

3. Help prevent your breath from hitting your glasses and fogging them up.

Wash Your Lenses With Soap And Water

All you need is soapy water and a soft cloth. Use soapy water to wash your lenses and shake off the excess liquid. You can air-dry your lenses or wipe them off with a soft cloth.

The soap leaves behind a thin film that acts as a fog barrier.

If your lenses have special coatings, , check with your optician before trying this next hack to avoid ruining them.

Tape It Down

Use medical tape to tape your mask down around the bridge of your nose and cheeks. For those with sensitive skin, don’t neglect to test the tape and make sure that it doesn’t cause irritation. Alternatively, you can use tape that was made for sensitive skin.

Avoid using duct tape or any tape that wasn’t made to be used on skin.

Place A Tissue On The Inside Of Your Mask

If you tape a folded tissue under your mask at the bridge of your nose, it will absorb escaping moisture from your nostrils and stop your glasses from fogging.

These are just some information and tips on eye care. For more helpful tips, hacks and general assistance, browse our website.