Foggy Lenses on Safety Eyewear Create Hazards at the Work Site

Eyeglasses have a tendency to fog. Whether it’s when you are exercising, moving outside into the heat after being in an air-conditioned car or building, or going from the warmth of a car or building into the cold winter weather, your glasses will fog.

If you wear safety glasses while working this is also true and can be extremely annoying and potentially dangerous. In fact, there are around 2,000 eye injuries that occur every day at work in the U.S. The causes for these eye injuries vary, but one common theme seems to be foggy lenses on safety glasses.

In 2020, everyone who wears any type of glasses deals with them fogging. The difference this year of course is face masks. It seems that everyone is looking for a way keep their glasses clear, and there are a variety of home remedies as well as anti-fogging products on the market.

Home Remedies

A quick search on the internet will give you several home remedies – some that make sense and some that seem rather odd.

Some of the more unusual fixes include cleaning your glasses with potato juice or toothpaste without baking soda. While these could work, here are a few other ideas that seems more likely to produce results.

Wash your glasses with water and a liquid dish soap, like Dawn, then wipe them clean with a soft cloth.
Cover your lenses with shaving cream. Let it dry then wipe clean with a soft cloth.
Rub a bar of soap on your lenses to create a clear layer of film. Let it dry then wipe clean with a soft cloth.

If face masks specifically seem to be the issue, here are a few tips to reduce fogging¹:

Improve the fit of your mask. Many masks feature a bendable metal strip that allows the wearer to mold the mask to their nose and cheeks. You should also adjust the mask’s straps or ear loops. When the mask fits properly, most of your breath should go through it, not out the top or sides.
Tape your mask. Tape your mask across the bridge of your nose and across your cheeks. You can use most any type of tape, like adhesive, medical or athletic, just be sure to avoid duct tape. Test the tape on a different part of your body to ensure it doesn’t irritate your skin.
Pull your mask up. A simple way to decrease the amount of fog on your glasses is to pull your mask higher on your face and use the weight of your glasses on top of the mask to block the flow of air. This method is most effective with large, thick frames.

Anti-Fog Wipes and Solutions

There are a number of anti-fog products that can be used for both prescription and non-prescription glasses. These sprays and wipes can be found online and in stores. You could also talk to your ophthalmologist to get recommendations. Keep in mind that anti-fog solutions may not work as well on glasses with certain coatings, such as anti-glare, anti-fingerprint or anti-smudge. It’s important to read the fine print on each product.

Anti-Fog Lens Treatments

If you work in an environment that requires you to wear safety glasses, you need a more permanent way to keep your safety glasses from fogging. If that is the case, ORR Safety offers its FOG FIGHTER™ anti-fog treatment for non-prescription safety eyewear. It works six times better than standard anti-fog treatments and meets the new ANSI Z87.1-2020 eye protection standard anti-fogging requirements. The benchmark for performance of anti-fog treatments, FOG FIGHTER™ treatment is good for the life of the lens – it won’t wash off or wear off.

For prescription eyewear, most eyewear fabricating laboratories offer multiple anti-fog lens treatment options. These anti-fog treatments are bonded to the lens and are considered an integral part of the lens. The ORR Safety eyewear program offers three different anti-fogging lens treatment options to address different anti-fogging issues. Eye Care Professionals can offer advice about which treatment option would function best in a specific work environment.

ORR Safety has the solution whether you use prescription or non-prescription eyewear.

Don’t let foggy glasses get in the way of being productive and safe both at home and work. The safety experts at ORR Safety can work with you to find the right safety glasses and the right anti-fog products or treatments for you.