Attitudes towards wearing a face mask
Countries around the world have demonstrated that protective face masks are necessary to limit the spread of COVID-19 - however, wearing them will certainly take a bit of getting used to. We recently asked 2,000 adults living in the UK about their attitudes to using masks in public and discovered that 6 out of 10 will refuse to wear one in a pub or restaurant, regardless of government advice. Less than half of the participants would consider donning a face covering when out shopping, while 29% said they were embarrassed to be seen in one.
Things are a little different when it comes to public transport, with 7 in 10 saying they are prepared to wear a face mask while on a busy train, bus or tube, but 84% would never wear one out walking. Our study also found that 46% of adults haven't even tried using a face mask at all - despite it now being compulsory for public transport and the norm in shops.
Interestingly, respondents with eyeglasses are four times as likely to refuse to wear a face mask, compared to those without corrective eyewear. 3 in 10 spectacle-wearers say their main concern with masks is that they will fog their glasses. We get it - no one wants to walk around with blurry, uncomfortable vision but that shouldn't stop you from keeping yourself and others safe. There are many ways to keep your glasses fog-free - including using contact lenses, which give you better clarity, seamless peripheral vision and amazing freedom of movement.
As with any lifestyle change, people just need a bit of time to ease into the new normal, so attitudes towards wearing a face mask might change soon. In the meantime, we've put together the fun quiz above to test your vision through steamy glasses. Whether it's well-known landmarks, cute animals or familiar objects: try your luck and see how well you can see through the fog. Our London team spent the week comparing results - why not through yours in the mix, too? Follow us on social to let us know how you did: we're on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.
Vision Direct was founded by passionate opticians in 1998, becoming the UK's first online-only contact lens destination. Twenty-two years later, their constant focus on customer needs has made Vision Direct Europe's leading online contact lens store - with a stock of over 20 million eye care products at any given time. The company's commitment to making quality products available at affordable prices (up to 45% cheaper than high street opticians), speedy delivery service, expert advice and award-winning customer care has made Vision Direct the trusted eye care choice for over 1.5 million customers around the world.
