Eyewear

How To Prevent “Mask Fog” on Your Glasses

If you wear glasses and a face mask, you’ve probably struggled with “mask fog.” Your lenses get all misty, requiring you to wipe your eyewear throughout the day. Below are a few strategies to help you prevent your eyeglasses from fogging up when wearing a mask.

But First, Why Do Glasses Fog Up?

Quite simply, condensation forms whenever moist warm air hits a cool surface. Your eyeglasses fog up when the face mask sends your warm breath upward instead of in front of you. This is great to preventing virus transmission, but not so good for anyone that wears eyeglasses.

Is Your Mask Well Fitted?

The mask should fit securely over your nose. It is best to have a mask with a nose bridge or one that can be shaped or molded to your face. When the mask fits properly, most of your breath should go through the mask rather than through the top or sides.

Use Your Glasses To Seal the Top of Your Mask

This method works best with large, thick eyewear frames. By pulling your mask up higher on your nose and placing the lower part of your eyeglasses on the mask, you can get a more snug fit that blocks your warm breath from escaping upward toward your eyeglasses.

Tape Your Mask to Your Face

If this becomes more of a problem, you can use tape to secure your mask across the bridge of your nose and the top of your cheeks. Use easy-to-remove tape, including adhesive, medical, or athletic. Don’t use duct tape.

Soap and Water Help Prevent Fogging

This trick is one that healthcare professionals regularly turn to. All you need for this hack is soapy water (dish soap works best) and a microfiber cloth. Don’t use soaps with lotions in them as they can leave a thick residue, making it even harder to see.

Simply rub the lenses of your frame with a drop of soap. Then buff the lenses with a soft microfiber cloth.

This effective trick helps prevent your lenses from fogging up as a transparent, thin film of soap acts as a barrier.

Anti-Fog Wipes and Sprays

Another option is to purchase wipes and sprays designed to tackle foggy lenses. Read the fine print, as certain anti-fog solutions may not work as well, or may even damage lenses with coatings that minimize glare and fingerprint smudges, for example.

This may be the right time to consider Contact Lenses or Orthokeratology.

Call us to learn about other options.

Family Eye Care in Old Bridge, NJ. 1-732-679-2020.

How to Disinfect Your Glasses to Help Prevent COVID-19

Coronavirus and Your Eyeglasses

Your eyeglasses (lenses and frames) can potentially transfer viruses, such as COVID-19, to your eyes, nose, and mouth. Viruses and bacteria are easily transferred from our surroundings to our hands and from there to our glasses. Research showns that coronavirus can remain on glass surfaces for as long as 9 days. We are often not aware that we touch our faces, eyes and nose as often as we do, and that is why washing our hands is so important.

People who are over 40 often need reading or computer glasses. When we put on and then take off our eyeglasses, we can inadvertently be transferring the virus. This age group is more susceptible to other compromising factors such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and respiratory illnesses, and are at higher risk for more serious complications from COVID-19.

How can we disinfect our glasses?

What are the do’s and don’ts?

Don’t use:

Rubbing-alcohol. Although it may be a good disinfectant, it may also be too harsh for your eyeglasses, especially if you have anti glare lenses or anti UV lenses.
Ammonia, bleach, or anything with high concentrations of acid, such as lemon juice or vinegar, because they can also damage your lenses and frames.
Paper towels to dry your lenses because the fibers can easily scratch the lenses.

You can use:

Dish Soap and Water, then rinse and dry using a microfiber cloth. Remember to clean the frame’s nose pads and earpieces.
Lens Cleaning Wipes. The pre-moistened lens wipes are excellent for cleaning your glasses, as well as your phone, tablet and computer screen. They remove bacteria, dust, dirt and germs from your glasses and the formula restores shine to glass surfaces without leaving any streaks or residue. The durable material is tough enough to remove stains, while being gentle enough not to scratch your screens or lenses.

So, In Summary:

Do not use rubbing alcohol to disinfect your glasses.
Avoid using household cleaners or products with high concentrations of acid.
Clean your glasses with a gentle dish soap and lukewarm water, or lens wipes.
Dry your glasses with a microfiber cloth to prevent smudging and scratching.

Disinfecting your glasses isn’t difficult. Just follow the easy steps above to protect your lenses and your health.

On behalf of everyone at Family Eye Care in Old Bridge, we hope you and your loved ones stay healthy and safe during this uncertain time.