5 Tips to Prevent Foggy Glasses While Wearing a Mask

Glasses serve as both fashion and function!  You want to look great and see even better, but if you are required to wear a mask, you may have experienced a snag with both.  In the middle of a pandemic, the last thing you need is your glasses fogging up, but this may be your world right now.  So why do your glasses fog up when you wear a mask?  It’s simple science.  When warm air hits a cool surface, condensation can form. 

Same if you walk into a warm room after being outside in the cold.  When your warm breath escapes through the top of the mask, it hits the lenses of your glasses and causes them to fog up.  But don’t get steamed about it!

Here are a few ways to prevent this from happening:

1. Fit Like a Glove:  Make sure your mask fits securely over your nose.  You can purchase masks with a nose bridge that can be contoured to your face, or if you want to fashion your own you can create a better fit by sewing pipe cleaners or twist ties into the top of the mask.
2. Wash Your Hands-Wash Your Lenses: Soapy water not only prevents the spread but can also prevent the fog. Simply wash lenses with soapy water (mild dish soap is best for glare-free lenses) and shake off the excess liquid.  Allow your lenses to air dry or gently pat dry with a microfiber cloth.  This process leaves a thin film that acts as a fog barrier. 
3. Frame Fasten-ation:  Use your glasses to seal the top of your mask.  Pull your mask up higher on your nose and place your glasses right on top of the material to keep warm air from escaping.
4. Sticking to It:  If you are looking for a “set it and forget it” method you can always tape your mask around the bridge of your nose and cheeks.   Make sure you use tape that is skin-friendly such as sports or medical tape.  NO DUCT TAPE PLEASE.  And of course, if you have sensitive skin you may need to test the tape on a less sensitive area to make sure it doesn’t cause irritation. 
5. As a last resort, there are Anti-Fog Sprays that can help keep your glasses from fogging up; however, it’s important to read the label information to make sure the product doesn’t contain any harsh chemicals that can cause permanent damage to any protective coatings on your lenses.  This can be a costly mistake that will add a permanent haze that can’t be washed away!