# Wearing the mask with glasses **URL:** \ **Category:** The Quarantine Zone\ **Tags:** covid-quarantine\ **Created:** [May 29, 2020, 10:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wearing-the-mask-with-glasses/854655 "2020-05-29T10:36:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![RivkahChaya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rivkahchaya/32/8919_2.png) [@RivkahChaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RivkahChaya)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2020, 6:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wearing-the-mask-with-glasses/854655/21 "2020-06-01T06:43:38Z")
I actually saw a guy wearing a military gas mask at Walmart. Yeah, he could have had CF, or something, but it still seemed like overkill at first. ---
**Author:** ![filmore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7993a0/32.png) [@filmore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filmore)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2020, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wearing-the-mask-with-glasses/854655/22 "2020-06-01T13:57:54Z")
> [@Balthisar](#): > > Unless you’re wearing a military gas mask with lots of carbon in their filters, there are always going to be leaks. The idea is to catch the shit that you exhale directly in front of you, which actually makes military gas masks not effective (what you exhale isn’t filtered). Some masks are designed to puff out on the edges to allow the exhaled air to escape. Many of the KN95 masks are like this, with the air allowed to escape through the sides and bottom. The act of inhaling seals the mask to your face, but then the pressure of exhaling loosens the pressure on the edges and air escapes. Glasses fogging may be an indication that the mask it not fitting properly along the nose. There might be open gaps that aren’t sealed when breathing in. Air takes the path of least resistance. That may mean you breathe in unfiltered air that comes in through those gaps. One way to make KN95 masks seal better along the top and sides is to fold over the edge slightly so it makes a flap that rests along your face. The flap will act as a gasket and make a better seal. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2020, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wearing-the-mask-with-glasses/854655/23 "2020-06-01T14:01:21Z")
To the OP, what about wearing a bandana? I wear eyeglasses all the time. A bandana is loose at the bottom, so my breath exhausts downward, not up. No fog, almost never. I keep the bandana tied around my neck when not needed, and pull it up when needed. ---
**Author:** ![filmore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7993a0/32.png) [@filmore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filmore)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2020, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wearing-the-mask-with-glasses/854655/24 "2020-06-01T16:02:02Z")
> [@Bullitt](#): > > To the OP, what about wearing a bandana? I wear eyeglasses all the time. A bandana is loose at the bottom, so my breath exhausts downward, not up. No fog, almost never. I keep the bandana tied around my neck when not needed, and pull it up when needed. Keep in mind that a bandanna worn loosely like that will provide virtually no filtration. All the air will pass unfiltered around the gaps instead of through the fabric of the bandanna. Air takes the path of least resistance. It won’t go through the fabric unless it is forced to do so. You can demonstrate this yourself with a piece of paper. Hold the paper over your mouth and nose and loose at the bottom like the bandanna, and you’ll see it’s quite easy to breathe. Even if you try to cup the paper tightly around your mouth and nose, you’ll likely still be able to breathe. No air is coming through the impervious paper. Any tiny gaps between the paper and your face will allow a lot of air to come in. The same is true for a mask. A mask that is loose or ill fitting will allow a lot of unfiltered air be breathed in. If your goal in wearing a mask is to lower your risk of inhaling the virus, the mask needs to seal as perfectly as possible. A poorly fitting mask still has some benefit, but it’s mostly for other people. Any sort of face covering will slow and impede the exhaled air, which means exhaled droplets won’t travel as far and will have less chance of infecting someone else. But if you want personal protection against the virus, make sure the air you breathe comes through as much of the fabric as possible. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2020, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wearing-the-mask-with-glasses/854655/25 "2020-06-01T22:28:02Z")
> [@filmore](#): > > Keep in mind that a bandanna worn loosely like that will provide virtually no filtration. All the air will pass unfiltered around the gaps instead of through the fabric of the bandanna. Air takes the path of least resistance. It won’t go through the fabric unless it is forced to do so. > > You can demonstrate this yourself with a piece of paper. Hold the paper over your mouth and nose and loose at the bottom like the bandanna, and you’ll see it’s quite easy to breathe. Even if you try to cup the paper tightly around your mouth and nose, you’ll likely still be able to breathe. No air is coming through the impervious paper. Any tiny gaps between the paper and your face will allow a lot of air to come in. > > The same is true for a mask. A mask that is loose or ill fitting will allow a lot of unfiltered air be breathed in. If your goal in wearing a mask is to lower your risk of inhaling the virus, the mask needs to seal as perfectly as possible. A poorly fitting mask still has some benefit, but it’s mostly for other people. Any sort of face covering will slow and impede the exhaled air, which means exhaled droplets won’t travel as far and will have less chance of infecting someone else. But if you want personal protection against the virus, make sure the air you breathe comes through as much of the fabric as possible. I understand, and this was my understanding for bandanas, and masks that are of lower standards – basically they deflect the breath and they do not filter virus particles out of the air. ---
**Author:** ![iamthewalrus\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/258eb7/32.png) [@iamthewalrus\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamthewalrus_3)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2020, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wearing-the-mask-with-glasses/854655/26 "2020-07-13T00:30:30Z")
Does anyone have a suggestion for a good commercially available mask with a wire in it? I want to be able to wear a mask when I’m riding my bike. I will be breathing hard, so I need something that won’t leak up to my glasses. ---
**Author:** ![PoppaSan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/poppasan/32/189_2.png) [@PoppaSan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PoppaSan)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2020, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wearing-the-mask-with-glasses/854655/27 "2020-07-13T01:40:43Z")
What level of protection are you looking for? The N95 level or a mask to just meet the letter of the law or something in between? ---
**Author:** ![iamthewalrus\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/258eb7/32.png) [@iamthewalrus\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamthewalrus_3)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2020, 5:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wearing-the-mask-with-glasses/854655/28 "2020-07-13T05:58:56Z")
I’m mostly focusing on common prevent-my-droplets masking. I think the risk when outside is low but I’d like to add to the people wearing masks outside publicly. So, letter of the law. ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2020, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wearing-the-mask-with-glasses/854655/29 "2020-07-13T16:03:49Z")
> [@iamthewalrus\_3](#): > > Does anyone have a suggestion for a good commercially available mask with a wire in it? I think by now lots of places have a similar selection, but here’s the selection at Staples: [https://www.staples.com/Masks-Respirators/cat\_CL167000?akamai-feo=off](https://www.staples.com/Masks-Respirators/cat_CL167000?akamai-feo=off) I bought a box of 50 disposable earloops from them a while ago, and they have wires in them. Using a ribbon or long twistie or something tied between the earloops to go behind your head so you can get the pressure off your ears can be useful – I see that Staples is now also selling something made for the purpose (on the same page) but you can probably improvise something you’ve already got around the house. ---
**Author:** ![eschrodinger](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschrodinger/32/122_2.png) [@eschrodinger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschrodinger)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2020, 10:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wearing-the-mask-with-glasses/854655/30 "2020-07-15T10:24:26Z")
I realize this is from a while ago, so it’s not meant to call you out, but now there are studies saying masks do help the wearer. I haven’t seen the details – just news articles, but it makes sense to me. (As I argued when the whole “masks are useless” line was going around.) They can’t be the only thing you do, but they can reduce risk by some degree. > **[Masks may protect the wearer from the coronavirus more than originally...](https://www.cleveland.com/coronavirus/2020/06/masks-may-protect-the-wearer-from-the-coronavirus-more-than-originally-thought-new-research-suggests.html)** > > The World Health Organization’s meta-analysis investigated the best distance for avoiding person-to-person transmission of the virus, and how well face masks and eye protection worked to prevent the spread.It looked at about 200 COVID-19 studies in... Also, for the OP question, as a glasses wearer using homemade masks (the curved kind) I pinch the nose wire and then rest my glasses on top of it or just in front of it. Seems to get it to seal w/o messing up my view through my progressive lenses. ---
**Author:** ![eschrodinger](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschrodinger/32/122_2.png) [@eschrodinger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschrodinger)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2020, 10:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wearing-the-mask-with-glasses/854655/31 "2020-07-15T10:45:15Z")
> [@Inner\_Stickler](#): > > If you are taking your mask off and on repeatedly, you are inevitably transferring some amount of the virus from the mask to your hands where you can then leave it on door handles, shelves, products you pick up and then put back down, etc. Really, you should wash your hands very good at home, put a clean mask on holding it by the earloops, leave it on for the duration of your outing and remove it when you get home by holding it by the earloops (then wash your hands immediately) and washing or sterilizing it before subsequent use. I put on my mask as I get out of car, then use hand sanitizer. I carry hand sanitizer in the store, so I can use it before and after adjusting my mask, should I need to. I sanitize hands again before getting into my car and taking off my mask, and I wash hands immediately after I get home. I know hand sanitizer was scarce for a while, and we heard a lot of, “hand washing is better anyway.” But we don’t have to forget it exists. I can’t easily wash my hands in certain circumstances, but I can carry a small bottle of hand sanitizer when I’m out and about. ---
**Author:** ![Seanette](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/seanette/32/9139_2.png) [@Seanette](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seanette)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2020, 11:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wearing-the-mask-with-glasses/854655/32 "2020-07-15T11:52:18Z")
I’ve heard that twisting the earloops so you have a sort of figure-8 can help. I personally gave up and switched to a face shield. Judging by what it looks like at the end of a day, it’s blocking my output at least as well, it doesn’t fog my glasses (even if I try), and one less object on/around my ears is a good thing. I work in a call center, so between glasses and my headset, my ears get enough abuse, thanks. ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2020, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wearing-the-mask-with-glasses/854655/33 "2020-07-15T14:21:07Z")
> [@Seanette](#): > > one less object on/around my ears is a good thing. I work in a call center, so between glasses and my headset, my ears get enough abuse, thanks. A long twistie, or a ribbon, or pretty near anything tied between the loops of an earloop mask, will convert it to one held on by the back of your head instead. Much more comfortable, IMO. ---
**Author:** ![filmore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7993a0/32.png) [@filmore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filmore)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2020, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wearing-the-mask-with-glasses/854655/34 "2020-07-15T14:28:33Z")
> [@Seanette](#): > > I personally gave up and switched to a face shield. Judging by what it looks like at the end of a day, it’s blocking my output at least as well, it doesn’t fog my glasses (even if I try), and one less object on/around my ears is a good thing. I work in a call center, so between glasses and my headset, my ears get enough abuse, thanks. Are you concerned about catching the virus yourself? I would think the benefit of a faceshield is almost totally to protect others by reducing the distance droplets will travel rather than providing any personal protection. I don’t think that a face shield will protect you at all from inhaling droplets that are floating in the air. It will help if someone coughs or sneezes directly in your face, but I’m not sure if that’s a realistic risk for you. If you work in a call center, I would think the greater risk you face is droplets floating into your workspace from a coworker somewhere else in the call center. ---
**Author:** ![eschrodinger](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschrodinger/32/122_2.png) [@eschrodinger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschrodinger)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2020, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wearing-the-mask-with-glasses/854655/35 "2020-07-15T17:41:20Z")
> [@thorny\_locust](#): > > A long twistie, or a ribbon, or pretty near anything tied between the loops of an earloop mask, will convert it to one held on by the back of your head instead. Much more comfortable, IMO. Yes, I’ve been making masks, and now that elastic is more available, l’m switching to making two loops that go behind the head. It fits more people without the need to adjust, and is more comfortable I think. ---
**Author:** ![Seanette](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/seanette/32/9139_2.png) [@Seanette](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seanette)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2020, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wearing-the-mask-with-glasses/854655/36 "2020-07-16T01:56:43Z")
We’re distanced enough from each other, with face coverings now required when away from desk (unless eating in the breakroom), that I really don’t worry about it. The plastic almost reaches my collarbones, so I feel adequately covered and very much prefer to be able to see where I’m going. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wearing-the-mask-with-glasses/854655.md?page=1)