Foggy lenses to be a thing of the past

March 18, 2011

Good news for people who wear glasses! A new solution developed by researchers at Quebec City's Universite Laval stops glasses from fogging. This annoyance may become a thing of the past, as just one application of the solution will keep eyeglasses, sunglasses and other glass items free from fog forever.

The anti-fog coating consists mostly of polyvinyl alcohol, which causes small water droplets of condensation to evaporate. The solution may also be used on car windshields, camera lenses and windows.

"Despite appearances, the fog that forms on glasses is not a continuous film. In fact, it consists of tiny droplets of water that coalesce on the surface and reduce light transmission," said Dr. Gaetan Laroche, who led the study. "A good anti-fog coating should prevent the formation of such droplets."

Currently, there are several anti-fogging solutions available for sale. However, the researchers believe that most of these products do not stand up to repeated washing, whereas the new solution will be permanent thanks to a complex bonding system.

Many eye issues can be remedied by a pair of prescription lenses. The American Optometric Association states that adults regularly visit their eye doctor for check-ups.