Seeing through the fog

Widespread mask wearing as a response to the coronavirus pandemic has created a new consideration when shopping, travelling via public transport and in busy areas. The benefits of mask wear are clear, with the mostly unobtrusive, cheap accessories dramatically cutting the chances that infection can transmit.

Spectacle wearers, however, will have noticed that some masks can make seeing difficult as breath condenses on the inside of their lenses. This is caused by the upward flow of air from loosely-worn masks, something the Centre for Ocular Research and Education (Core) concluded could cause an increase in dry eye conditions among the population.