TIPS FOR AVOIDING FOGGY EYEGLASSES WHEN YOU WEAR YOUR FACE MASK

by R2's Design January 18, 2021

A great article from the University of Utah Health.

Optical Shop manager Patrick Shaw at the John A. Moran Eye Center knows all about wearing glasses with a protective mask for hours on end.

Since COVID-19 safety protocols went into effect, he and his team have been working safely with customers—and they’ve heard lots of complaints about the annoyance of putting on a mask only to have glasses fog up immediately.

“I can relate,” says Shaw. “It happens naturally to every eyeglass wearer when warm breath escapes from the top of the mask and sits on the cooler surface of lenses. Part of the problem is the fit of the mask. Fortunately, we’ve got some simple solutions for that.”

Easy Tips to Keep Your Glasses Fog-Free When You Wear a Mask

Create a seal: One of Shaw’s favorite tips is to adjust the fit to create a seal along the top edge of a basic surgical mask. Simply twist the loops once and put them over your ears (they’ll form a figure eight when viewed from the side). Twisting the loops puts slight downward pressure on the top part of the mask, redirecting your breath so it doesn’t flow up into your eyes. Pinch the mask over the bridge of your nose so it fits comfortably.

Rest your glasses on your mask: Whatever type of mask you’re wearing, once you’ve fit the mask to the bridge of your nose, try resting your eyeglasses on it. Covering a quarter inch of the mask with the bottom of your frames creates a seal. Just be sure you also cover your nose and mouth completely.

Close the gap: If your mask isn’t snug enough on the bridge of your nose, you can close the gap with medical or athletic tape—or even an adhesive bandage.