Mask fogging your glasses? 10 tips for keeping lenses clear

People who wear glasses put up with numerous indignities. They can be uncomfortable, they’re easy to lose or break, they get in the way when you’re trying to kiss your boo.

And they fog up at the most inconvenient times — especially now when we have to wear face masks to go about our business in public places.

Your exhaled air travels upward onto your lenses and, before you know it, you feel like you’re in a scene from “The Mist,” the Stephen King horror film in which a deadly fog engulfs a small Maine town.

But don’t cry — that just makes it worse. There are solutions to the problem.

The challenges of the covid-19 epidemic have stirred ingenuity in many aspects of daily life, and keeping your lenses clear is on the list.

Here are 10 helpful tips:

• Tighten the fit — Little breath should escape from an N95 mask; if it does, tighten the fit on the bridge of your nose. Air is bound to escape from a cloth mask, so some fogging is inevitable, but it can be lessened with tightening too. Tuck a a small strip of rolled aluminum foil or pipe cleaner under the top fold of your cloth mask and bend to fit more snugly on your nose.

• Make adjustments — Push your glasses up and lower your mask a little, just making sure that all of your mouth and most of your nose are covered. Alternately, push your glasses farther down your nose, although this can make it harder to see.

• Find the right fabric — If your mask is homemade, try removing one layer of fabric. Otherwise, experiment with other, more breathable fabrics. Thick cotton appears to be the most effective mask fabric, with nylon a good runner-up. Pick woven fabrics over knits.

• Find the right filter — Some research shows that HEPA filters provide the best air flow. Paper towel and coffee filters are shown to work well, too.

• Tissue topper — Place a folded tissue on your nose under the top of your mask and against your nose. Secure with a piece of tape. The tissue should absorb moislture from the exhaled air.

• Keep it clean — Dirt on lenses can trap moisture. Clean regularly.

• Anti-fogging sprays — These are available where eye care products are sold.

• Soap and water — Wash lenses with good old dish soap and water, then air dry. When dry, polish with a microfiber cloth and, voila, you have a protective coating.

• Other coatings — Shaving cream and toothpaste are among other substances said to leave that protective residue, but what a mess to apply.

Whatever you do to keep your lenses clear, remember:

• Don’t spit — The traditional spit-and-polish method of lens cleaning is not recommended now, if it ever was a good idea. The coronavirus can be carried in saliva.