As a glasses wearer, winter poses many threats to your optical happiness. But the most annoying?
Foggy lenses.
This is a common problem that we spectacle wearers face, especially during the colder months. In this blog post, I'll discuss why your glasses fog up and provide some tips on how to prevent this infuriating problem from happening.
Why do glasses fog up?
Glasses fog up in cold weather because of condensation. When you move between different temperatures — for example, stepping outside into the cold or coming back indoors — the warm moisture in the air hits your cooler lenses and turns into tiny water droplets. The result? Foggy lenses and blurry vision.
It’s a familiar frustration for glasses wearers during the winter months, whether you’re walking outdoors, driving, or simply stepping into a warm room.
Below, I’ve rounded up 12 practical tips to help stop your glasses from fogging up this winter.
12 Tips to stop your glasses fogging up
#1 Always carry a lens cloth
Dirty lenses fog up faster. Grease, dust, and fingerprints give condensation more surfaces to cling to, making your glasses mist over the moment temperatures change. A quick clean can make all the difference.
Use a microfibre lens cloth to wipe your glasses regularly and keep them free from contaminants. If you commute, have kids, or pets, carrying a cleaning cloth in your pocket or bag means you’re always ready for an on-the-go refresh.
Geeky anecdote: Microfibre is the only material you should consider for cleaning your spectacle lenses as it's super effective at removing dirt, dust and grease. Not only is this material gentle on your lens coatings, but its absorbent fibres easily removes moisture form your lenses.
And please. Never use your clothing to wipe your lenses. All those quick rubs with your shirt eventually add up and ruin any expensive lens coatings. The fibres of your clothes are much harsher than microfibre, which is enough to make me cry each time you take this nasty shortcut.
#2 Clean your lens cloth
A dirty cloth means dirty lenses. If your microfibre cloth is already full of dust, oils, and grime, all you’ll do is smear that mess across your glasses. Do yourself and your lenses a favour and treat it like a handkerchief or pocket square — give it a spin in the washing machine every week or so.
Fresh clean fibres absorb microscopic dirt and skin oils much better, making cleaning quicker and more effective. And keep your lens cloth dry. If it's damp, it'll be less effective at removing condensation from your foggy lenses.
Pro move: keep several lens cloths on rotation so there’s always a clean one to hand. You cannot have too many of them in your life.
#3 Daily bath
A quick dip in your kitchen sink will help keep foggy lenses at bay. Rinse your glasses in lukewarm, soapy water — not hot (you’ll ruin the coatings). No fancy soap needed either, just a drop of regular dishwashing liquid does the trick. In the UK Fairy liquid, or if you're in the USA, Dawn detergent.
Lather up the frame, nose pads, and lenses, then rinse and dry with a clean lens cloth (never paper towel). This clears away skin oils and dust, making fogging less likely. As a bonus, it gently warms your frame to room temperature to stop fogging and doubles as a cosy little ritual for winter evenings. (A sneaky hand warmer too).
#4 Don't wear your glasses on top of your head
Besides wrecking the shape of your frame, wearing them on top your head is another reason why they fog during cold weather. Venting as much as 10% of your body heat, the warm air from your head rises up and onto your lenses causes them to condensate and fog. The colder the weather, the more likely this will happen due to the temperature difference.
A sinful habit. If you value your glasses, don't treat them like a hairband. By wearing them on top of your head, you're putting stress on the frame and it's temples (arms). Over time, this will warp your glasses and make them slack. If you're experiencing a loose fit or any kind of fogging, it's time to break this habit, once and for all.
#5 Avoid touching your lenses
If your glasses keep fogging up in cold weather, try to avoid getting hand cream, moisturiser and other skin products on your lenses. These can cause your glasses to become even more dirty and cloudy, which will make them difficult to see through.
Whilst you should definitely keep your skin hydrated, try to avoid touching your glasses immediately after applying any skin products to reduce smears and smudges on your lenses. If you do have to adjust or remove your glasses, try holding your frame by the temples (arms) or the outer edges only. And when you're not wearing them, put them in their protective case.
#6 Leave a gap for your face coverings
Leaving a gap between any face coverings and your glasses is another way to help stop them fogging up. If you have a scarf or hat that covers your mouth and nose, make sure there's a small gap between the top of the fabric and bottom of your glasses so that the warm air doesn't rise behind your lenses and fog them up. In especially cold weather, try to avoid breathing on or into your glasses.
#7 Let your glasses change temperature
Try letting your glasses adjust to the temperature difference before using them.
Heading indoors give them a few minutes to warm up indoors before putting them back on. To fast-track this process, why not clean your glasses in some lukewarm water to gently elevate your frame's temperature whilst making your lenses sparkling clean.
Remember, it's the change of ambient air temperature that causes your lenses to fog, so the same applies in reverse.
Heading outside your glasses are likely to be warm from indoor heat and body temperature which will cause them to fog in the frosty air outside. To combat this, you could always 'prep your frame' by equalising its temperature ahead of time. In other words, pre-cooling your frame to reduce the likelihood of fogging
Here's some weird but effective examples;
- Keeping your glasses out in your car
- Store your glasses in a cold room or vestibule
- Put them outside or on a windowsill
- Put them in the fridge
#8 Invest in good lens coatings
Lenses with anti-glare and anti-scratch coatings often contain hydrophobic and oleophobic properties to repel water, dirt and oil. By repelling these contaminants, the lenses are less likely to fog up or become scratched.
Hydrophobic coatings work by creating a barrier on the lens surface that prevents water droplets from clinging onto the lens surface. This causes water to bead up and roll off, which reduces the amount of moisture that is able to condense on the lens.
Oleophobic coatings have a similar effect by repelling oil from your skin and hands. This stops them from sticking to the lens surface and prevents smudges from forming.
To stop your glasses fogging in winter, hydrophobic/oleophobic coatings will help to reduce this infuriating effect of cold weather. Thankfully, our Lite Range spectacle lenses come with a complementary HMC (hard multi coat) which combats this. Essilor branded lenses come with Crizal® lens coatings which also deter the dreaded lens fog.
Regardless, it's still important to take care of your lenses by cleaning them regularly and avoiding contact with skin products.
#9 Use anti-fog spray
In addition to good quality lenses and coatings, anti-fog spray is a great way to help prevent glasses lenses fogging up in winter. It creates a thin film on the lens that helps to keep moisture away, which can help to reduce the amount of fogging that takes place. To use anti-fog spray, simply apply it to the lenses of your glasses and give them a few seconds to dry. You can then put your glasses on and enjoy clear vision in cold weather.
But which anti-fog spray to buy?
In a test carried out by the Independent, they found that the best anti-fog spray was the Zeiss anti-fog kit (pack of two) which you can buy from Amazon here.
#10 Watch out for hot drinks
Out on the move, grabbing your daily caffeine fix can also be a cause for foggy lenses. Hot steam rising from the cup can also cause your glasses to steam up. Similar to breathing onto your glasses, the warm air and moisture from your brew will cause your lenses to condensate.
Opt for a carry-lid on your cup to contain the steam away from your lenses. Alternatively, you can remove your glasses whilst you sip your espresso... or whatever beverage that get's you through.
#11 Make sure your glasses fit you properly
Glasses that sit too close to your face are more likely to fog up. Your body heat has nowhere to escape, so condensation builds quickly on the lenses. A little extra space between your skin and the back of your lenses improves airflow and keeps things clearer.
A common culprit is a bridge width that’s too wide. This makes the frame rest on your cheeks, bringing the lenses closer to your skin and increasing fog. It also causes your glasses to slip down your nose, meaning constant readjustments — and smudged lenses.
If your bridge doesn’t fit properly, stick-on silicone nose pads are a simple fix. They’re inexpensive, easy to find online, and help lift the frame off your cheeks for a cleaner, fog-free fit.
For a guide to spectacle frame sizing, click here.
#12 Lens material matters
When it comes to fogging, plastic lenses are less likely to fog up than mineral glass equivalents. This is because the hydrophobic and oleophobic chemicals are more effectively absorbed into the plastic material, creating a stronger barrier against water and dirt. As a result, plastic lenses are much less likely to experience this problem in cold weather.
Breaking news. Nowadays, most optical lenses aren't made of glass. Instead, they're made from plastics such as CR39 or polycarbonate. Over the past 30 years or so, technological advancements in lens materials have made plastic lenses comparably good and in some cases, better and more easily recycled than mineral glass ones.
Conclusion
Foggy glasses is a common problem during cold weather. Depending where you live, huge temperature-swings are mainly to blame.
However, the tips in this guide should hopefully help you 'control the controllables' when it comes to your optical habits. From choosing the right lens coatings to keeping your lens cloths clean and dry, there are plenty of ways to prevent your spectacles from becoming steamed-up.
Whilst these tips may not completely stop glasses from fogging, they'll certainly help minimise this annoying problem. So if you're looking to stop the dreaded glasses fog this winter, be sure to try some of the methods listed in this guide.
Hopefully you found this article helpful. Please check out our other eyecare blogs.
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