Do you hate wearing face masks because of your glasses? No one knows the struggle of seeing through foggy glasses lens than glasses-wearers.
It is critical to protect oneself during these times, especially with a virus on the loose. However, putting on masks might not be appealing to some, particularly for those who find it particularly hard to see when putting on the masks.
According to the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP), glasses tend to fog up when putting on a face mask because of the warm, moist air upon exhalation coming in contact with the lens. To stop the fogging, one must block the breath from reaching the surfaces of the lenses.
As technical as it sounds, there are easy tips and tricks to make the fog go away. Here are three simple tips you can do to ensure you stay protected without suffering from foggy lenses.
1. Wash your glasses with soapy water
According to an article published in the Annals of the Royal College of Surgeons of England in 2011, washing your glasses with soapy water could help prevent fogging.
It suggested that before wearing a face mask, people should wash their spectacles with soapy water, shake off the excess water, and then allow the lenses to air-dry.
According to the article, washing the spectacles with soapy water leaves behind a thin layer of surfactant film. Furthermore, this film reduces the surface tension and brings the water molecules to spread out evenly into a transparent layer.
This so-called "surfactant effect" is widely used to prevent misting in many different surfaces used in various everyday situations. Additionally, antifogging solutions used for skiing or scuba diving also use this method.
2. Wear a tight-fitting mask
Another article published in 2014 in the Annals of the Royal College of Surgeons of England suggests tying surgical masks in a crisscross manner to ensure its tight fit.
The method involved tieing the mask crisscross so that the top ties come below the ears, and the bottom ties go above. By using the approach, the mask will be brought tighter to the wearer's face, thereby preventing exhaled breath to fog up the lenses.
Moreover, those using masks without ties but with ear loops should make sure the top of their mask is tight. This works best with surgical masks with a nose bridge that can easily be shaped.
Cleveland Clinic advises using twist ties or sewing pipe cleaners to ensure the mask's adjustable fit for those making their own masks.
3. Try the tissue trick
Finally, another tactic is to try placing a folded tissue between your mouth and the mask. The tissue will absorb the warm, moist air and prevent one's breath from reaching the glasses.
Additionally, it would also help to ensure that the top of your mask is tight and the bottom looser. This way, it would help to direct the exhaled breath away from the eyes and glass lenses.
These tricks are very easy to do. The next time you head out and need to use a mask, try them and see just how effective they are. Share it with your friends and relatives who might need the tips as well.
