With the government making the wearing of face masks mandatory in shops and supermarkets from July 24 to curb the spread of COVID-19, fogged-up glasses are becoming a big problem for many.
Of course, we must wear these masks for our safety and for the safety of those around us, but if you've already worn a mask, you'll know how uncomfortable they can be, especially if you wear glasses.
It can get quite hot and stuffy inside the mask and for many of us that wear glasses, our lenses have been fogging up while wearing a mask, which is not ideal when you're trying to browse in a shop!
Optifog optician, Andy Hepworth, explains why fogging happens and how to avoid it. He said: “It’s all down to a combination of body heat and airflow. When you wear a face mask, you are breathing out warm air, which mostly escapes through the top of your mask, lands on the cooler surface of the lenses, and causes a fog effect.”
How to avoid foggy lenses – an optician’s guide
There are ways of protecting yourself and others from coronavirus and not compromising vision with these six steps from Optifog optician, Andy Hepworth.
1. Wash the lenses with soapy water
Wash your glasses or sunglasses lenses with soapy water and shake off the excess moisture. Then, let your glasses air dry or gently dry the lenses with a clean microfiber cloth. Using this method, leave an anti-mist layer so lenses shouldn’t fog up once you put a mask on, but it will only be effective for a short while.
2. Seal the mask
Make sure there aren't any gaps for the air to escape around your nose and cheeks. A common trick employed by doctors involves sticking a piece of double-sided tape across the bridge of the nose before putting on a mask to stop the warm air escaping upwards or try tucking the mask behind your glasses.
3. Make sure the mask fits well
A loose-fitting mask lets exhaled air head toward your glasses, but a snug fitting mask allows air to flow out of the bottom or sides of the mask and away from your glasses.
A tight-fitting mask around the nose bridge means less hot air will end up hitting your lenses.
4. Adjust your glasses
If your glasses have nose pads, you can tweak them so the frames sit slightly lower down which will allow hot air to escape instead of getting trapped between your face and your glasses. This will affect your vision if you’re wearing progressive lenses with a strong prescription so be sure to readjust afterwards and before driving.
5. Breathe downwards
It might feel strange at first but breathing downward can be a temporary anti-fog fix as it sends the air away from your glasses. Hold your upper lip over your lower lip. Then blow air downward.
6. Anti-fog lenses for greater visibility, greater comfort and less fogging
The Optifog anti-fog spectacle lens from Essilor Ltd has launched to help offer clear vision under face masks and overcome the nuisance of mask-induced foggy lenses.
Optifog anti-fog lenses are a hassle-free solution to clear lenses, even when wearing a mask. An anti-fog coating gives you a hassle-free answer to foggy lenses, regardless of whether the obstructed vision is triggered by a face mask or something else. The unique system uses two patented technologies; the Optifog lens treatment and a smart textile cloth with anti-fog molecules which activates the power of the Optifog lens.
Benefit from fog-free glasses by merely wiping your lenses with the smart cloth each morning to prevent your glasses from fogging up throughout the day.
Optifog lenses are available from independent opticians. To find you nearest visit www.essilor.co.uk
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