Foggy lenses are a common complaint during wintertime. It’s annoying. And it can easily be avoided.
Eyeglasses fog up in the winter because the cold lens meets warm air. You’re outside in the cold, you come inside to the warmth and your glasses fog up. That’s because water vapor in the air turns into a liquid when the temperature changes, and that liquid clings to your lens.
Sure, you can always wipe away the condensation. You can also take these actions to keep fogging from happening in the first place:
1. Use eyeglass lens materials less prone to fogging. Polycarbonate and plastic lenses resist fogging. Anti-reflective treatments often include a coating which resists water, fogging and smudges. Also, sport sunglasses and snow and ski goggles contain venting to prevent fogging.
2. Clean your glasses. Dirt and smudges give condensation something to cling to, so keeping your eyeglasses clean is a tactic to prevent fogging. Some store-bought lens cleaners use an anti-fog solution.
3. Get your frames adjusted. Frames that sit too close to your face prevent the air from circulating properly.
Never use hot water as this could damage your lenses. And avoid all types of household cleaners like vinegar, ammonia or commercial surface cleaners, as these will damage the treatments on your lens.
