And, why do your glasses fog up when you wear a mask? The simple answer: condensation, says Dr. Jesse Pelletier, MD, FACS, ophthalmologist and president of Halodine, a line of oral and nasal antiseptic products, “When the warm and moist air is trapped behind your spectacles, microscopic water droplets collect on the cool surface of the lens, forming a layer of fog that makes it difficult to see.” “Flow physics” describes the process of air escaping from a mask, he adds, “Inhalation generates low pressure in the interior region of the face mask and seals perimeter leaks. With exhalation, the opposite is true, and increased pressure between the mask and face pushes the mask outwards and creates perimeter leakage.” Still, masks and glasses are a formidable pair in preventing the spread of COVID-19. A recent study published in JAMA Ophthalmology found that people who wear glasses are less likely to touch their eyes, which could help them potentially avoid transferring coronavirus from their hands to their eyes. “So, please don’t let a little fog deter you,” Pelletier says. Luckily, there are some ways to keep your glasses from fogging up when you wear a mask. Here are a few tips.
How to keep glasses from fogging up with a mask
Make sure your mask fits properly
“A good seal is the name of the game to prevent your glasses from fogging, so naturally a good nose seal is a must,” says Dr. Jaclyn Tomsic, MD, DMD, FACS, and oral surgeon at Ohio’s Center for Oral, Facial and Implant Surgery. Masks that are more rigid or have a conforming upper border offer a better seal to help prevent fogging. Whatever mask you choose, make sure it fits your face well. Pelletier says there shouldn’t be much space between the upper rim of the mask and the bridge of your nose. If it’s too big and doesn’t fit snuggly, foggy glasses will be a regular occurrence.
Adjust your mask to fit snuggly
You can always buy a new, better-fitting mask, but you can probably also adjust the ones you have to prevent your glasses from fogging. YouTube, TikTok and other social media sites are full of hacks and how-tos for making masks fit better. One tip is to wrap the ear loops around twice. Another is to fold the mask lengthwise and knot the ear loops as close to the mask’s corners as you can for a snugger fit.
Opt for a mask that conforms to your nose
Masks that fit tightly over the bridge of your nose are the best bet in preventing your glasses from fogging. So look for ones with a piece of metal that will bend to fit your nose or adhesive that will stick to your skin. Dr. Tomsic says she wears glasses while performing surgeries most of the time and has tried many different kinds of masks. “I have found that the ones with adhesive on the upper portion of the mask–the edge that conforms to your nose–is the most effective in preventing fogging during surgery or any other task.”
Change the positioning of your glasses
If you’ve tried all the masks and your glasses still fog up, Pelletier suggests changing the position of your spectacles. Wearing them further down your nose could allow more air to circulate and keep your breath from fogging up the lenses. It could take some getting used to, though.
Wear your glasses over your mask
Repositioning both your glasses and mask may be another solution. Wearing your mask a little higher up on your nose and your glasses a little further down, so that the bottom of the lenses overlaps your mask could prevent fogging, says Dr. Patrick McEneaney, board-certified DPM. “When you have a mask on, if you put the glasses over your mask, it will prevent the moisture from affecting your glasses.”
Tape the mask to your nose
Surgeons often wear masks for hours at a time, and they swear by this hack. “A light piece of paper tape across the top of the mask can prevent fogging,” says Dr. Loren Schechter, MD, a doctor atWeiss Memorial Hospital. Just be sure to choose surgical tape or another kind that’s safe for the skin, Pelletier adds.
Clean the lenses with soap and water
You can also try treating the lenses of your glasses to prevent fogging, Pelletier suggests. Research shows that washing your glasses with warm soapy water leaves a thin film that could prevent fogging. “This simple maneuver will decrease surface tension on the lens and better spread out the water molecules [from the condensation],” he explains.
Try an anti-fogging treatment
Another way to prevent your glasses from fogging up: buy an anti-fogging treatment. There are several sprays and wipes out there that you can apply to your glasses to stop the fog. Pelletier says the products usually contain rubbing alcohol or detergents which work similarly to the soap and water solution.
Don’t spit on your lenses
One hack often used by scuba divers and swimmers to keep their goggles from fogging is to coat them in saliva. But health experts say this is best avoided. Spitting on your lenses can leave bacteria on your glasses, which could potentially get into your eyes.
Rub the lenses with shaving cream
Shaving cream is one remedy for foggy glasses that’s been floating around the Internet. Rubbing the lenses with a small amount of shaving cream and then wiping it off (but not washing) apparently has the same effect as soapy water by repelling moisture. Just be careful, because some experts say the shaving cream could irritate your eyes.
Avoid coating your lenses with toothpaste
Another home remedy you may have seen online is smearing your lenses with toothpaste and wiping it off. But, health experts say don’t do it. Toothpaste can be abrasive and could damage your lenses, and it could irritate your eyes.
Place a tissue inside your mask
Placing a folded tissue against your nose at the top of your mask could absorb some air and keep your glasses from fogging, according to Newsweek. You can use a piece of tape to keep it in place so you don’t have to keep adjusting it and risk contaminating your mask.
Wrap the ties around your glasses
Another hack that Dr. Tomsic says she uses involves wrapping the mask ties around your glasses. But, it only works for masks with ties rather than ear loops. “Wrap each string twice around each arm of your glasses before putting them on,” she explains. “Now put on your glasses and then tie the strings behind your head.” This creates a seal to help with fogging. It also keeps your glasses from falling down your nose, she adds.
Switch to anti-fog lenses
Though it’s not an immediate solution for fogged-up glasses, you could switch to lenses with an anti-fog coating. But, if the glasses-mask combo is getting to be too much of a headache, it may be worth talking to your ophthalmologist about.
Consider switching to contact lenses
If don’t wear contacts, now may be a good time to explore the option, especially since we’ll be wearing masks for the foreseeable future. And, your glasses will likely keep fogging up. “Honestly, contact lenses are always a good option if you find them comfortable and convenient,” Schechter says. Next, read about how much longer we’ll have to wear masks after people get vaccinated. Sources:
Dr. Patrick McEneaney, board-certified DPM, owner and CEO of Northern Illinois Foot & Ankle SpecialistsDr. Jesse Pelletier, MD, FACS, ophthalmologist, president of HalodineDr. Loren Schechter, MD, director of the Center for Gender Confirmation Surgery at Weiss Memorial HospitalDr. Jaclyn Tomsic, MD, DMD, FACS, oral surgeon at Ohio’s Center for Oral, Facial and Implant SurgeryJAMA Ophthalmology: Association of Daily Wear of Eyeglasses With Susceptibility to Coronavirus Disease 2019 InfectionAnnals of the Royal College of Surgeons of England: A simple method to prevent spectacle lenses misting up on wearing a face mask
