It’s winter’s cruellest COVID-19 twist for those with glasses, the endless fogging up of them. Mask-wearing and colder weather will make the fogging up even worse.

Here are some solutions to the problem.

WHAT CAUSES IT?

Your warm breath.

When you have a mask on, your breath can only go out the side or straight up behind your glasses. Hot, humid air on cold glasses causes it to fog.

It’s even worse in the winter, when your glasses are extra chilly, leading to even more steam and fog.

QUICK FIXES

The easiest solution is to seal down your mask around your nose or cheeks. Use surgical tape or another bandage that won’t irritate the skin.

You can also opt for a mask that has a wire across the nose, so you can tighten the upper edge, moulding it to your face a bit more, meaning less air can escape. 

While these options work well if you’re keeping your mask on all day, they aren’t the best if it’s coming off and on.

LONG-TERM SOLUTIONS 

If you’re looking to kick the problem for good, you can invest in a pair of lenses with an anti-fog coating.

But if you’re not ready for a whole new pair of glasses, you can purchase anti-fog sprays and wipes that do the trick.

You wipe them in the morning, and they last for about 24 hours. So it’s a more inexpensive and convenient option.

You should also make sure your glasses are fitted properly and get them adjusted so they sit better on your nose or can go on top of your mask.

Of course, you could also ditch the glasses altogether and switch to contact lenses.

SKIP THE MYTHS

Heard that cleaning your glasses with soap or shaving cream will do the trick? Think again.

Do not put anything on your glasses that is not intended to go on them. It can eat away at the coatings, and your glasses could be ruined.

PREPARE FOR A LONG WINTER

We’ve yet to hit the coldest days, so the issue of glasses fog will likely get worse as the temperatures fall.