Anti-fog lens coatings are essential when wearing a face mask

Wearing safety eyewear while also using a face shield, face mask or breathing apparatus can cause the lenses to fog up due to low air circulation or diverted airflow, especially if not properly fitted, leading to severe or continuous fogging issues.

Does this sound familiar? If you answered yes, you will be well aware of the frustration fogging causes. But do you know of the productivity and compliance issues that come along with it?

How can you avoid it?

To ensure your safety eyewear remains fog-free, superior anti-fog technology is key. It's important to remember not all anti-fog coatings are created equal.

Chemically engineered to not wash off, uvex’s anti-fog coatings are fundamentally different from competitors – that’s because all uvex anti-fog coatings are hydrophilic, which causes fog moisture to hit the lens and absorb into the coating eliminating fog quickly and efficiently (see visual below).

This is a drastic change from the fog resistance that you’re used to as most competitive anti-fog coatings are hydrophobic, which causes moisture to spread out as it hits the lens instead of dissipating. Once several moisture droplets start to congregate, fogging occurs. Hydrophobic coatings are also detergent-based and start washing off after the first cleaning.

uvex’s flow-coating application technology provides an anti-fog coating that is consistent, clear, uniquely bonded to the lens, and up to 4x thicker than dip-coated alternatives. Exclusive to uvex, this flow-coating process also allows different supravision coating configurations to be applied to either side of the lens, giving the wearer more specific, quality protection where they need it most.

In order to ensure long-lasting performance from your uvex safety eyewear, ensure you clean your lenses in the correct way to minimise damage to the lens coatings. First, lightly blow off any loose dirt or debris and then run your eyewear under cool water – uvex lenses are engineered to allow excess dirt to wash off easily, without sticking.

Next, spray the cleaning solution found in the uvex eyewear lens cleaning station directly onto the lens, and then use the lens-safe tissue to wipe clean. If you’re not immediately putting the safety eyewear back on, store them in a protective pouch; never put unprotected eyewear in your pocket.