Now masks are expected (and often, enforced) in indoor public places around the world, we've become accustomed to wearing them as "the new normal". Aside from social distancing, masks are one of our best defences in our fight against COVID-19 – at least until a vaccine lands on shelves.
One study published in the journal PNAS found wearing masks significantly lowered the number of infections by almost 80,000 in parts of Italy. The evidence is clear: masks help reduce the rate of infection.
However, glasses wearers are still very inconvenienced by masks: they fog up our vision, especially in winter, producing large amounts of condensation and limiting our ability to see. Fortunately, the below video from the UK's College of Optometrists offers some tips for reducing this fogginess.
Fogging glasses are created by condensation, as warm air passes over the surface of the lenses when you breathe out, causing moisture to collect on the lens surface. This is especially prevalent as we head into winter, as the cooler air will create an even foggier effect.
CoO Clinical adviser Daniel Hardiman-McCartney suggests several solutions, such as tightening your mask by twisting the straps. Ensuring your mask is tighter around the nose will prevent warm air escaping out of the top of your mask, instead pushing it out to the sides where it can't fog your glasses up.
Your other option is a well-fitted face covering, similar to the ASICS Runners Face Cover or UA Sportsmask. These serve a double-purpose of both being great for fitness purposes thanks to the masks' technical construction, and being form-fitting enough to ensure not very much air escapes from the top of the mask: instead, the mask is designed to filter air through as naturally as possible.
If you can't adjust the mask you wear, perhaps you can adjust your glasses position, wearing them higher on your nose to ensure there's less condensation, or using anti-fogging spray or wipes to keep them clean.
Finally, Hardiman-McCartney suggests a surreptitious piece of surgical tape around the top of the mask, effectively creating a "seal" around the nose bridge to ensure warm air doesn't escape.
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