EYE FOCUS | COVER STORY
CLEARING THE
BY DENIS LANGLOIS
Diane Irvine has been in search of a clear solution to foggy lenses for some time . And she ’ s not alone .
Since wearing a face mask indoors has become mandatory in multiple Canadian jurisdictions because of the COVID-19 pandemic , scores of eyeglass wearers like Irvine have been dealing with an increasingly familiar conundrum : walking into a fog at stores , malls , workplaces and other locations .
“ It ’ s really frustrating ,” she says . “ You have to deal with it when you ’ re going from outside to inside and it ’ s becoming more frequent in winter . It ’ s a real pain having to take off your glasses every time you walk into a store to wipe off the condensation .”
While it ’ s mostly only an inconvenience , fogging lenses can be potentially dangerous as well , like in a car or when inadvertently encountering a trip hazard .
“ I know that wearing a mask is important to prevent the spread of the coronavirus , but I really wish I can find a way to prevent my glasses from fogging up ,” Irvine says .
Health Canada recommends wearing a non-medical face mask in shared indoor spaces to help prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus .
Mask-induced fogging happens when moist , warm exhaled air , directed upwards and out of the top of the mask , hits the cooler surface of the lenses .
In these COVID times , the foggy lens dilemma has become so common that multiple articles have been written about potential solutions , ranging from sealing the top of the mask with a bandage to putting a folded tissue over the bridge of the nose to absorb moisture before it hits the lens .
Optical companies have developed more innovative and convenient solutions that eye care professionals can recommend to patients .
14 EYE FOCUS | February Digital 2021