Coronavirus: How to keep your glasses from fogging while wearing mask

FILE PHOTO: German Federal Health Minister Jens Spahn's glasses start to steam up as he wears a protective mask.. Many people are having the same issue as Spahn. So how can you keep your glasses from fogging while wearing a mask?

Credit: Jens-Ulrich Koch/Getty Images

Credit: Jens-Ulrich Koch/Getty Images

FILE PHOTO: German Federal Health Minister Jens Spahn's glasses start to steam up as he wears a protective mask.. Many people are having the same issue as Spahn. So how can you keep your glasses from fogging while wearing a mask?

With more municipalities and businesses requiring masks, people who wear glasses may be having a difficult time seeing clearly.

Glasses tend to fog up when wearing a mask.

So how do you keep the fog from clouding your vision?

Basically, you have to stop the leak of the air from the mask.

The New York Times published the following tips.

Medical masks normally have a metal strip that can be shaped to your nose. If you have a homemade mask, use a pipe cleaner to mimic the metal strip.

You can also try a twist-tie, paper clip or aluminum foil in place of the pipe cleaner, WBBM reported.

Also, tighten the fit. Adjust the ties or ear loops so the mask is snug, the Times reported.

Stop leaks with tape -- either medical tape, athletic tape or even a Band-Aid. If you have duct tape, put it down! Don’t use tapes like the silver-fix-all or packing tape. They could cause skin irritation.

You can also use your glasses to block the airflow by pulling the mask higher on your nose, and under the glasses. Remember it may not work for all styles of eyewear.

You can also keep them from fogging by washing the lenses with soapy water and letting them air dry. The film stops water molecules in your breath from forming on the lenses, the National Institutes of Health suggested.

You can also try baby shampoo, toothpaste and shaving cream, the Times suggested.

But some say you may want to stay away from those treatments because they could potentially damage the lenses depending on what coating is already on them, WBBM reported. You could also irritate your eyes.

There are also commercial anti-fogging treatments available on the market.

But don’t be surprised if they don’t work. There are coatings on some lenses that are resistant to the treatments.

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