On rainy and cold days, wearing a mask can cause your glasses to fog up and reduce your vision. Try these tips to quickly resolve this issue:
Wash your glasses with soapy water
Soap water contains surfactants that help the lens resist fogging and faster evaporation. Therefore, wash your glasses with soap before putting on a mask. Then, let the glasses air dry or gently wipe the lenses with a clean, soft cloth.
Seal the top edge when wearing a mask
When wearing a mask, the breath tends to escape upwards, condensing on the lenses and causing fogging. To prevent this, pinch the stiff part of the mask and your nose bridge together to direct the breath downwards instead. You can also use tape to seal the top edge of the mask, preventing breath from reaching your lenses.
Additionally, ensure your mask fits your face well to minimize breath escaping upwards. A well-fitted mask will significantly reduce the amount of warm air reaching your lenses. Make sure the mask fits snugly on your nose bridge and closely follows the contours of your face.
Adjust the distance between the lenses and your face
If your glasses have nose pads, adjust them to increase the distance between the frames and your face. This allows for quicker dissipation of warm air, reducing lens fogging.
Use an anti-fog solution
Specialized anti-fog solutions can be applied to your lenses to reduce fogging and water condensation.
Breathe downwards through your mouth
The “breathing downwards” technique is another effective method to prevent lens fogging. However, it requires some practice. To do this, keep your upper lip slightly protruding and your lower lip tucked in, then blow downwards as if you’re playing a flute. This directs your breath downwards instead of upwards.
Invest in anti-fog, water-repellent glasses
Nowadays, anti-fog glasses are available, which can be a more permanent solution to this issue. While they tend to be more expensive than regular glasses, they are a worthwhile investment.
Wear a helmet with a built-in visor
When it’s raining, consider wearing a helmet with a built-in visor or using an umbrella to prevent rainwater from splashing onto your lenses, thus avoiding fogging.