How to keep glasses from fogging up while wearing a face mask
Ophthalmologists and eye surgeons explain why your glasses fog up when you wear a mask and recommend ways to help you avoid the irritating phenomenon.
All of the experts we consulted mentioned that masks with wired nose pieces are great for people who wear glasses. “It is bendable and flexible enough to allow you to manipulate fitting your facial curves, avoiding air escaping up into the space behind your glasses,” explained Amy Steinway, OD, FAAO, assistant chief of primary care at University Eye Center and an assistant clinical professor at SUNY College of Optometry. This cotton cloth mask from WITHMOONS is equipped with a nose wire and features three layers for maximum protection plus cotton ear loops for a form-fitting but comfortable fit.
Steinway personally uses the Sportsmask from Under Armour, and she said that she likes that it’s more “form-fitting” since it’s offered in multiple sizes. “It [creates] less fog with the thinner portion closest to the eyes,” she added.
Steinway is also a fan of the face masks from 32 Degrees, which she said produce “less fog” than many of the others on the market. The three-layer masks are made from a blend of 85 percent polyester and 15 percent spandex for breathability, moisture removal and an improved fit. “The polyester/spandex is a little more breathable and also contours to the face nicely to prevent fog,” Steinway explained. The brand says the mask also has UPF 50+ protection against both UV-A and UV-B rays.
This three-layer, machine-washable mask from Etsy is designed with several of the features experts recommended for glasses wearers, including a nose wire and an extended fit well above the nose. It also comes in several sizes for adults and kids alike, and you can choose from 70 different patterns and colors.
Many of the experts we spoke to recommended foam bridge pads to use as a barrier between your mask and your lenses. “Foam around the nose will help to prevent warm air from escaping,” explained Andrea Tooley, MD, an oculoplastic surgeon and clinical spokesperson for the American Academy of Ophthalmology. These nose bridge pads come in a pack of 100 and have a self-adhesive design, so you can just stick them inside your favorite masks.
All of the doctors we spoke to noted that anti-fog spray is effective against warm breath. (Pelton even said his team uses them on surgical cameras.) This kit features both a portable 5-milliliter bottle of anti-fog drops and a microfiber cloth to gently clean your lenses. Tooley advised to just make sure that whichever anti-fog spray you buy “won’t damage any protective coating you may have on your glasses lenses.”
You don’t necessarily have to buy a mask with a metal nose piece built into it. If you want to keep using the masks you already own, Lisa Thanjan, MD, MPD, a public health physician on the Virginia Department of Health’s Covid-19 Health Information Team, noted that you can also add a nose wire to “help prevent air from leaking out of the top of the mask.” These aluminum nose bridge strips come in a pack of 100 and are designed to conform to any mask and face.
Thanjan noted that mask braces — which are worn over a face mask to “improve the fit by helping to reduce air leakage,” according to the CDC — can be a good option for people who wear glasses. This one from Fix The Mask comes in three sizes — Small, Medium and Large — the brand has a size guide you can use to figure out which one will work best for you.
If you want to avoid tightening the ear loops on your mask to the point of discomfort, Pelton recommended using a piece of double-sided tape to attach the nose area of your mask to your face. This will allow you “to get a tight seal without over-tightening the elastic,” he said. Alternatively, he suggested using a strip of tape “over the top edge of the mask.”
Since our breath is what causes our glasses to get foggy, experts we spoke to also said that a tight-fitting mask is ideal for anyone sporting spectacles. In particular, they said features that can contribute to a better fit include:
Several of the experts we spoke to noted that an easy way to prevent fogging while wearing a mask is by avoiding glasses altogether with either contact lenses or, if you have the time and money to invest in it, LASIK eye surgery. However, if you want to keep wearing your glasses, there are a few other things you can try:
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