title: Determining the effects of eyewear fogging on visual task performance.
abstract: The effect of fog on eyewear was evaluated by having individuals perform a target detection task in environments that typically cause eyewear to fog while wearing either eyewear that had been treated with anti-fog coating, eyewear not treated, or no eyewear. Detection was higher with eyewear that had been treated with anti-fog coating compared to uncoated lenses and no difference was observed between wearing coated eyewear and wearing no eyewear. The study concluded that fogging of lenses has a significant effect on visual detection and the use of anti-fog coating is relatively effective. However, in environments where prolonged fogging occurs water droplets form on anti-fog coated lenses which disrupts visual performance in a manner similar to the fog it is trying to prevent. It is recommended that anti-fog coating be considered when purchasing protective eyewear, and a bench test be developed to assess the coatings applied to eyewear.
authors.affiliation: Human Factors Research and Engineering, Defence Research and Development Canada, 1133 Sheppard Avenue West, Toronto, Ont., Canada M3M 3B9. jacqui.crebolder@drdc-rddc.gc.ca
authors.forename: Jacquelyn M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Crebolder
authors.forename: Rodger B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Sloan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D006804:Ergonomics; D005131:Eye Injuries / Q000517:prevention & control; D005135:Eye Protective Devices; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006813:Humidity / Q000517:prevention & control*; D007909:Lenses; D008297:Male; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D014785:Vision, Ocular