People who wear glasses have quite a tough time dealing with its cons regularly. To lessen the hassle that comes with having to wear glasses every day, one should ensure that the choice of glasses is made correctly. Glasses with fitted frames and good quality lenses should be invested upon.
The issue of fogging lenses has been a nightmare for people who wear glasses, since time immemorial, and with the recent onset of the deadly covid-19 virus, wearing glasses with a facial covering has become mandatory and the problem has aggravated as if having to wipe our glasses every time we come out of air-conditioned conditioned spaces, such as a room or a car, wasn’t annoying enough.
There have been strict guidelines by the government and other bodies concerned about health and welfare regarding the importance of using masks and sanitizers at all times to ensure safety at times, that have been made available to the public, time and again for almost a year now. Masks have been our saviors since the inception of the pandemic but the problem of fogging while wearing glasses with a face mask is one of its loopholes among many others such as skin problems, breathing problems, etc.
The process of fogging occurs due to the accumulation of air or vapor on the edge of the glasses due to wearing glasses with a facial covering. Now we know and understand the plight of doctors who are used to wearing surgical masks regularly. The clarity of vision is of paramount importance for them because something as critical as an operation needs the clearest vision.
Tips to Follow When Wearing Glasses with Mask
Hence, they swear by certain conditions while wearing glasses with a mask. Several things need attention to find a solution to the question of how to see clearly while wearing glasses with a facial covering and we’ve got you covered in this article.
1. Cleaning the Lenses Properly Before Wearing Glasses with a Facial Mask
Fogging, when occurred on dirty or dusty lenses, can make things worse and lead to difficulty in vision. One might need to strain their eyes to view objects clearly, thus leading to headaches, hazy sight, etc.
It is extremely important to spend considerable time and effort to keep one’s lenses clean using regular water or solutions prescribed by doctors or optical store managers. It’s more advisable to consult doctors for the same if you don’t have much idea about such solutions. The cloth that is used to wipe the glasses should be soft and smooth textured since course materials might cause permanent marks on the lens or damage it completely.
2. Investing in Fitted Masks
Loosely fitted masks should be avoided and one should invest in tighter masks that fit accordingly. It’s important to check the various shapes and sizes of masks before zeroing down on your perfect match, based on the shape and features of your face. Rightly fitted masks ensure the proper circulation of air and do not lead to the process of vapor accumulation while wearing glasses with a facial covering.
Thin, light materials should be opted for such as silk or cotton, instead of thicker materials, not just for solving the fogging issue but also due to lessening the issue of acne and other skin problems that have become quite common nowadays. The masks or shields should have an adjusting mechanism in the form of stretchable or elastic strings or bands.
3. Adjusting and Placing the Glasses Over the Mask
One must make it a point to place the glasses over the mask to control the air passage from that area. The upper end of the mask should remain enclosed so that the issue is minimized. If there’s no gap for the vapor to pass from, fogging wouldn’t take place, leading to clear vision while wearing glasses with a facial mask. The mask should be placed in such a way that the air exits from the enclosed space through the bottom end of the mask and not the upper end.
Some people have the habit of wearing their glasses quite below their noses. This is something that’s not advisable. According to specialists, glasses should be worn as high as possible, ideally, perpendicular to the line of vision when they’re looking straight. The higher placing of glasses is recommended because it wouldn’t cause too much of a problem even if slight fogging occurs.
4. Enclosing the Opening of the Mask
As mentioned above, it is really important to close the gaps on the upper end of the mask while wearing glasses with a facial covering. Doctors often use certain sealing tapes so that the seal is tight and in place. These tapes are safe and can be used on the skin regularly. Such tapes can be used if the problem of fogging persists despite wearing the glasses above the mask.
The only issue with these tapes is that if they’re stuck too tightly, it might lead to breathing problems and palpitation, causing many other issues and even certain fatal ones. However, using moderate amounts would not lead to such conditions. Another important factor concerning the tapes is, these shouldn’t be kept on the skin for long hours since they might lead to rashes and itchiness.
Conclusion
The aforementioned solutions of how to see clearly while wearing glasses with a facial covering are followed by several individuals for years now due to their professional and personal needs.
While we might have been complaining about the additional effort that we need to put to cease the process of formation of vapor while wearing glasses with a facial covering, what also needs to be noted is the fact that we wouldn’t have been this concerned about seeing clearly and keeping our glasses clean, if not for the increased usage of masks and protective shields due to the pandemic.
The positive side of this is all the hype about spreading awareness about making important changes here and there in our lifestyle that might help us adapt better to the new normal. Among all the immensely dangerous outcomes of the virus, the least we can do right now is to remain thankful for our comparatively minor concerns and problems.
Also read- DIY Hand Sanitizers, Disinfectants and Facemasks