How to Take Care of Glasses in the Cold

It's cold outside once again, meaning it's time to break out the heavy coats, hats, and gloves. But what about your glasses? Do you have a plan for keeping them from fogging up and freezing in the cold weather? Here are a few tips on how to take care of your glasses in the cold.
 

Guard Your Glasses from the Elements

Never leave your glasses outside, such as in a car overnight, for long periods. Your eyeglasses will have more dramatic fog when the temperature changes are more extreme. Keeping your glasses on will keep the temperature more balanced and reduce the severity of foggy glasses.

Extreme temperature changes can also cause the frames to warp or the lenses to crack. Extreme cold causes the materials your glasses are made of to become more brittle. The coating on the lenses is susceptible to crazing, which is the appearance of small cracks or scratches due to extreme temperature changes to the anti-reflective coating. Therefore, always store your glasses away from the elements in its case when you are not wearing them.

Create Air Circulation

Most fogging on your glasses is caused by heat and moisture from your breath. When you’re wearing a scarf or facemask, you should create a seal between your nose and glasses so that your breath is projected downwards. Exhaling away from your glasses will help prevent them from fogging up.

It’s also worth noting that the closer glasses are to your face, the easier it will be for them to fog up. The warmth from your face creates heat and moisture, which causes an increase in condensation. Positioning your current frames or choosing a new pair that will sit further away from your face will help prevent lens fogging.

Use Anti-fog Products

Anti-fog products are synthetic formulas that come in sprays, wipes, and creams used to create a protective coating on your lenses. The protective coating acts as a barrier that prevents condensation from forming. These products also prevent other debris from adhering to your lenses. These products are affordable and are used on a variety of transparent materials. Ask our optometrists for brand recommendations!

Alternatively, if you do not have anti-fog spray on hand you could use shaving cream as an anti-fog application in a pinch. Shaving cream adds a protective film over the lens that protects against moisture. Shaving cream is also thin enough to allow you to still see through your lenses. While shaving cream may not be as effective as an anti-fog spray, it can be surprisingly effective.

Visit Our Office for More Winter Eyewear Tips

It’s essential to take extra care of your glasses during the winter. By following these simple tips, you can help keep your glasses looking and performing their best during those brutally cold winter months! For more winter eyewear tips, schedule an appointment today and ask our doctors during your visit!