Glasses That Don’t Fog Up? Yes, Please!
I've worn glasses since first grade, and I've spent pretty much all that time trying to find a way to have them not fog up in winter, either when I come in from the cold or when I'm outside and wearing a face mask, as you can see from the cover photo. So far, my best solution has been a pair of ski goggles, which works better than anything else I've tried so far, but still not as well as I'd like.
Well, a solution may be on the horizon. According to a article I came across on Engadget, researchers at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich (also called ETH Zurich) have developed a coating that prevents moisture from condensing on a surface altogether. That prompted me to search out the news release from the university.
Here's the most basic explanation I can give based on the information I have access to. A layer of gold, so thin you probably couldn't even tell it's there and won't impede or even color your vision, is sandwiched between layers of insulating material that are applied to the lens(es). The gold absorbs infrared radiation from light, raising the temperature of the lenses and preventing condensation. At night, the heating effect could be powered with electricity, such as a watch or hearing aid battery.
It's a really cool idea, and I hope it makes the jump from research to practical use, because the researchers think this would also work for preventing fogging on car windshields and mirrors.
Unfortunately, that means it's going to be a while, so in the meantime, I'll still be using my ski goggles.