Whether you're a regular glasses wearer or you only need to use them from time to time, it can be frustrating when the lenses steam up. For those who are wondering how to stop glasses fogging up, here are our handy tips and tricks.
Why do glasses fog up?
To know how to prevent glasses from fogging up, you need to first establish the cause. When water vapour touches a cool surface - in this case, the lenses - it can condense and turn from a gas back into a liquid (which is why you may see water droplets too). Water vapour can come from many sources including breath, sweat and the air.
There are several reasons why condensation may occur:
Temperature changes
Dramatic changes in temperature can cause condensation to build up on your glasses, as the lenses will be cold when you leave a cool environment and enter a warmer one. This is particularly common during autumn and winter, as many homes and shops will have heating on.
Cooking
When you're in the kitchen, the temperature and moisture levels can rise pretty quickly when you have pots and saucepans of boiling water and steaming foods on the go.
Humidity
Similar to temperature changes and cooking, the humidity in places like bathrooms or swimming pools can cause your glasses to steam up.
Mask wearing
Mask-wearing often causes foggy glasses, as due to limited airflow, your breath escapes from the top of the mask and lands directly onto your glasses. This was of course common during the COVID pandemic, but it can also be a reoccurring issue for those who have to wear masks for work (such as doctors, nurses, cleaners, nail technicians etc.).
How to stop glasses fogging up
Whilst this issue is annoying, there are a number of ways you can reduce it.
Anti-fog lenses
Many opticians can add anti-fog lenses to your glasses, just like they can with anti-glare and polarised lenses. This is essentially a special polycarbonate coating which will absorb the moisture that lands on your lenses. This usually comes at an extra cost but it's worth it if you experience regularly have foggy glasses.
Soap and water
If you need a quick-fix, try giving them a rinse with dish or hand soap. Add a drop of soap and gently rub it onto both sides of the lenses. Rinse of the excess then buff them with a microfibre cloth or leave them to air dry. The soap will act as a transparent film which will prevent the moisture from staying on the glass. Don't use lotion soaps, as this could make them greasy and smudge the lenses.
Anti-fog spray
When your glasses get fogged up on the go, keeping anti-fog spray in your bag or pocket can help to get rid of it. Similarly to the soap and water method, they coat your glasses in a protective film.
Anti-fog wipes
Just like the anti-fog sprays, these wipes can be used to remove fog on steamy glasses and provide a coating to stop it from coming back. You can get both single-use or reusable wipes (which are more like microfibre cloths).
Adjust your glasses
This may seem like a fairly obvious one, but it can be beneficial, particularly to mask wearers. Your glasses may not be sitting correctly, or the mask could be too high. If your glasses have nose pads, adjust them so that the frames are sitting slightly lower down your face. Don't forget to readjust them again when driving or handling machinery.
The best anti-fog removers for glasses
Best for anti-fog cloths
www.boots.com
This reusable cloth can be used up to 1,000 times. Simply breathe on the lenses to fog them up and then gently wipe them clear with the cloth; this should provide you with 48 hours protection from smears and steam.
A reviewer said: "I’ve had my cloth for nearly a year now and have recommended it to lots of people. I work for the NHS and wouldn’t be able to see to do my job without this cloth. Surprised by the negative reviews so here are my tips. Make sure your glasses are clean before using the cloth. Then breathe on one lens surface at a time to wipe with the cloth. i.e. you need to use it 4 times each time you use it. I then breathe on each surface again to see if they fog up - if so, repeat. I use it every morning and never have a problem with foggy glasses! This was by far my best purchase of 2021."
Best for an anti-fog set
www.boots.com
This set contains everything you'll need to get rid of fog on your glasses. Simply spray some of the anti-fog solution onto the lens and wipe the lenses dry with the cloth provided. It's also effective on goggles and face-shields and even camera lenses and binoculars!
One reviewer said: "Stopped my glasses getting foggy when I used them on both my ski goggles and my motorbike glasses."
Another reviewer wrote: "It works great removes as it removes marks like grease left by fingers marks etc.."
Arabella Horspool is a Commercial Content Writer for Mother&Baby and Yours at Bauer Media. She's a bookworm who enjoys cooking and spending time with her many pets.