Wearing a mask and glasses: five tips to avoid fogging

A masked life is the new daily life of the French, on this day of deconfinement for France. Mandatory in transport, essential in supermarkets or various points of sale. It is the most effective instrument to limit the spread of droplets or infectious postions, protective masks are one of the main solutions to limit the transmission of the coronavirus Sars-CoV-2, which is the cause of Covid disease. -19.

But here the wearing of the mask is not without drawbacks, particularly for glasses wearers. Indeed, it is enough for a mask to be ill-adjusted so that the hot air exhaled through the nose or mouth fogs up cold glasses, by the effect of condensation. And visibility is obstructed.

Let’s specify it right away, there is no simple and perfect trick to solve the problem of fogging on glasses. But there are a few methods you can try to limit breakage. As a preamble, some surgical masks are fitted with copper or iron nose bars, which need only be pinched to prevent air from passing through. But it is not entirely effective.

1. Insert a flexible “nose” into your homemade mask

For more comfort of use, you must be able to "mold" your mask around your face using a flexible "nose". By doing so you can probably avoid a good deal of the fogging. Ideally when sewing your own mask, you can use a tutorial to insert something foldable, like a hairpin, into a pocket at the top of your fabric mask. Otherwise a small Oise company has developed a practical and simple solution. This small piece, the “clip-mi”, with shape memory, clips onto the top of the mask.

This limits the risk of fogging, the risk of putting your hands on your face, and the risk of ejection of postilions towards the glasses as well.

2. Use a tissue to prevent fogging

This tip comes from an article published in 2011 by the Royal College of Surgeons of England. It consists of taking a disposable tissue, folding it horizontally, then placing it between the skin and the mask (near the bridge of the nose). Thus, the handkerchief absorbs moisture from the exhaled air and prevents fogging from forming.

How to prevent your glasses from fogging while wearing a mask.

3. Washing with soapy water

Your glasses fog up when you are outdoors because your mechanically warmer breathing causes condensation on the cold surface of the glasses. "Wash the glasses with soapy water", also specifies the same British study, "leave a thin film which reduces this surface tension and makes the water molecules" not fix on the glass. It is therefore necessary to wash both sides of the glass and rinse with water. But it is a very temporary solution.

4. Shaving foam wash

Using the same technique, shaving foam can also do the trick. Use this solution on both sides of your glasses, then rinse with warm water before drying in the open air or using a soft cloth (to avoid scratching the glasses).

5. Use an anti-fog spray to protect your glasses

This usual technique consists of spraying or applying an anti-fog spray or gel using a cloth. They will prevent the fogging from settling on the glasses. These products are available from opticians who should reopen all over France from this Monday.

VIDEO. How to wash and make your fabric mask last