Mask duty – a foggy affair for people wearing glasses?

What a crazy time to be alive, in the middle of a global pandemic… It’s 20 April 2020 and a few European countries have already taken measures to introduce a mask duty. Although the UK government continues to argue that face masks have little effectiveness^[1], the Guardian, however, recommends wearing a face mask in case a person has been in contact with somebody that was tested positive for the virus^[2].

Now, the priority is to contain the pandemic, therefore it’s “safety first“! Even young people who are less likely to be severely affected by the coronavirus, show solidarity by making their own masks in the most creative way possible. But how compatible are our creations for protecting our mouth and nose, especially when wearing glasses? We already know how it is during winter: when the temperature is below zero, we are happy to find refuge in the warm. But instead of floating on Cloud 7, everything is cloudy because our lenses are foggy up. This does not only make us look funny, but can also a bit disoriented. The same happens when we wear a face mask, from which the warm, exhaled air makes its way upwards to our lenses. What a foggy fail!

Woop-woop! That’s the advice of da police!

There are a few tips and tricks to help us find a remedy. For that, the world is directing its attention towards Japan, where the “uniformed helpers“ of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department have already introduced the following two tips:

1. Fold the mask by taking the upper quarter inwards. That way, the ascending air is caught in the crease instead of the lenses.
2. Take a handkerchief and fold it lengthways. Then, place it on the inside of the mask on the spot where your glasses are. This is a good alternative for fabric masks that cannot be folded.

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With conventional medical masks, however, the easiest method is to adapt the wire sewn in the top of the mask to your own face. To do this, put the mask on and simply press the wire firmly against the bridge of your nose and cheekbones. If it is tight enough, no (or at least hardly any) breathing air should be able to reach the top. In the following video, another method is presented. And it can help to wash glasses with soap beforehand. Once you have rubbed your glasses with soap and rinsed them, all you have to do is dry them off and you should be able to rest for a while. This is because the thin layer that remains on the lenses after rinsing with soap or our Eye Shaker cleaning set prevent the fine droplets of the air, we exhale, to stick to our lenses.

Whatever method you choose to do, it’s on you. Every face and mask is different. That’s why it is important to see what works best for you. But please try it at home! It’s best to see whether the chosen option actually works at home. Nothing is less favourable than foggy lenses while driving or riding your bike! In that sense, #staysafe and even better #stayhome 🙂