A woman has praised for sharing a “game-changing” hack to stop glasses from cracking while wearing a face mask.
Most people are now required to wear face cover when they are in enclosed spaces, such as in shops and on public transport in much of the UK.
The government rules are an important measure to help stop the spread of coronavirus, but those of us who wear glasses have difficulty seeing through lenses that are fogged-up by escaping our breath under our masks.
One woman has now revealed her simple, yet clever, technique to help make her glasses misty while wearing her mask.
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The trick, conceived by Nic Jam, who shared it with the world via Facebook, includes sewing a button on her mask, allowing her glasses to sit a little further from her face.
‘Bespectacled peeps,’ she wrote together in the title a picture of her with her custom mask.
‘I sewed a button to my mask so that my glasses could save a little further from my face but not slip away. No more fogging up or constantly adjusting. ”
The simple hack has been shared more than 31,000 times on Facebook and the post has received thousands of comments from spectacle wearers who like it.
“Oh my god, this could be a game-changer,” one person wrote.
“Wow, what a great idea, will make life a lot more enjoyable for all of us who wear glasses, thank you,” was another one.
‘One smart lady, take out my buttons and needles. Thanks for the fantastic idea. ”
But one commenter offered a small word of warning about the hack.
“Just from an optics point of view – if we take measurements for glasses, they are accurate,” she wrote.
“Sitting the glasses further away can make them too strong or not strong enough, as wearing varifocals or bifocals will reduce the reading segment. Displacement of the optical centers could also cause prism. It’s a fun idea, but it could cause problems. ”
Instead, the commenter suggested putting a tissue on the inside of your mask to stand up to the warm, moist air.
The tissue tip is seconded by Ceri Smith-Jaynes of the Association of Optometrists, who previously advised weaving a tissue “until it forms a strip and places it along the top edge of the mask before applying it” .
Smith-Jaynes also offered some more advice to help prevent foggy glasses, which, she says, “happens when hot breath escapes from the top of the mask and gets on the cooler surface of the lens.”
Make sure the mask is properly fitted
Smith-Jaynes suggests getting a face mask with wire over the top of your nose, and taking some time to shape the nasal wire so that it closely follows the contours of your nose and cheeks. “If your mask does not have a wire, you can insert a twist band or pipe cleaner into the top edge of the mask,” she adds. “You can secure the top with micropore tape, if needed.”
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Adjust the loops
If you have a small head, you may find that you need to twist the loops before wrapping them around your ears to get a snug fit. “If the mask has straps to tie it, tie the top high on the back of your head after you have your glasses on,” Smith-Jaynes explains.
Buy good quality anti-fog sprays
Not all anti-fog sprays are created equal. “Good quality anti-fog sprays can work well and can be purchased with most opticians,” says Smith-Jaynes.
Although it is tempting to spray some washing liquid on your lenses, according to optometrists this is a big no, no. “[Using washing up liquid on lenses] can gradually break down the anti-reflection lens coating over the years, resulting in a crazy-paving effect where there is only one cure – replacement lenses, “warns Smith-Jaynes.
Keep your glasses warm
Your lenses will bird more when they are cold, so Smith-Jaynes suggests wearing your glasses or putting them in your pocket to warm them up a bit before you need to adjust them with your mask.
Have your glasses fitted professionally
Still steaming under your mask? It may be worthwhile to seek professional help from your optician. “Remember to take your mask with you (and your face shield if you have to work in one),” says Smith-Jaynes. “They can adjust the nose circles as well as the sides to fit your PPE well. Varifocals will just need to be seated to ensure optimal performance. ”
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