Tried & Tested: Rodenstock FogFree
It's an age old problem, but the issues of fogged up lenses have received a great deal of attention in the trade and consumer media over the past year and subsequently, a slew of products have hit the market. The latest to join in is Rodenstock, with a slightly different take on the subject in the shape of the FogFree lens cloth.
The FogFree disposable cloth has been designed specifically for use with the manufacturer's Solitaire Protect Plus premium coating, but was also claimed to work with other lens types and coatings.
Upon opening the re-sealable package, the cloth felt like a slightly dried out disposable baby wipe, but has a claimed lifecycle of 20 applications. However, Optician's sample cloth was torn and difficult to use after approximately 10 uses.
The application of the treatment was laborious and we had doubts as to whether the average patient would comply with the 10-15 second recommended rubbing time. Upon application, the lenses (a high quality branded product) were heavily smeared and needed to be cleaned with a regular cleaning cloth. We tried the cloth on similar lenses with similar results. It is possible that the smearing may not be an issue with Rodenstock's own lenses and coatings.
The anti-fogging properties of the lens worked well in a number of testing situations, including cycling and with hot drinks. A very thin film was created on the lens and vision in this state was very clear and compared well to that of specialist lenses on the market. However, the protection didn't last as long and within a few hours, lenses fogged easily. Anti-fog performance may have lasted longer on the manufacturer's Solitaire Protect Plus coating.
The cloth's anti-fogging properties worked well, but issues with the length of time it worked for, longevity of the cloth itself and the long application time made Optician seriously question if it was a product it would use.