Two different jobs get confused on this shelf. Some of these products clean a lens. Some stop it fogging. A few do both, and one of them does neither of the things people assume. Here are the six we stock, sorted by what they actually do, so you can buy the one that solves your problem.
The short version
- Cleaning only: Peeps and the Zeiss wipes.
- Cleaning and anti-fog together: Cat Crap, the FogBlocker wipes, the FogBlocker cloth.
- Anti-fog, applied to an already clean lens: the Anti Fog Stick.
Side by side
| Peeps | Zeiss Wipes | Cat Crap | Anti Fog Stick | FogBlocker Wipes | FogBlocker Cloth | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cleans | Yes | Yes | Yes | No, apply to a clean lens | Yes | Yes |
| Stops fog | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Format | Reusable tool, two carbon pads | Pre-moistened wipes, individually wrapped | Rub-on paste in a tub | Rub-on stick | Single-use wipes, individually wrapped | Reusable microfiber cloth |
| Liquid involved | None at all | Yes, pre-moistened | No, a paste | No, a stick | Yes, pre-moistened | No, pre-treated cloth |
| How long it lasts | Up to 500 cleans | 60 wipes per box | 0.5 oz tub | Not stated on the product page | 20 wipes per pack | 500+ applications, about 24 hours per wipe |
| Coated lenses | Made for eyeglass and sunglass lenses | Ammonia-free, safe for coatings including anti-reflective | Made to be safe on coated lenses including anti-reflective | Plastic, glass and coated lenses | Eyeglasses, sunglasses, sports and safety goggles | Eyeglasses, sunglasses, sports and safety goggles |
| Made by | Carbon Klean | Zeiss Vision Care | EK USA | Kleargo, Quebec | FogBlocker | FogBlocker |
How to pick
Your glasses are smudged, not foggy
You want a cleaner, and the choice is whether you like liquid or not. Peeps uses no liquid at all: two soft carbon pads sweep both sides of a lens at once, and there is a small brush built in for loose dust first. Zeiss Lens Wipes are the pre-moistened kind, individually wrapped, 60 to a box, and they work on phone screens and camera lenses too.
Your glasses fog up and you want one product for everything
Three products clean and fog-proof in the same motion. Cat Crap is a soap-based paste you dab on and buff out. FogBlocker wet wipes are single-use and individually wrapped, twenty to a pack. The FogBlocker cloth is the reusable version of that same idea.
You already have a cleaner you like
Then you only need the fog part. The Anti Fog Stick is a rub-on treatment for a lens that is already clean and dry, made by Kleargo, a Canadian optical supplier in Quebec.
You want the fewest things to buy again
Peeps is rated for up to 500 cleans, and the FogBlocker cloth for more than 500 applications. Both are one purchase rather than a box you finish. The Zeiss wipes and the FogBlocker wipes are the opposite: 60 and 20 respectively, then you reorder.
Questions we get at the counter
Why do my glasses fog up in the first place?
Warm, damp air meets a cold lens and settles on it as tiny droplets, and a mass of tiny droplets scatters light, which is what you see as fog. Anti-fog products work by making that moisture spread into a thin, even film instead of beading up.
Will these damage my anti-reflective coating?
The Zeiss wipes are ammonia-free and stated as safe for coated lenses including anti-reflective. Cat Crap is made to be safe on coated lenses, and the Anti Fog Stick works on plastic, glass and coated lenses. If your lenses have an unusual coating, bring them in and we will look at them with you.
Is Peeps an anti-fog product?
No, and this is the most common mix-up on this shelf. Peeps is a cleaning tool. It lifts fingerprints, oils and dust without liquid, and it makes no anti-fog claim. If fogging is your problem, you need one of the other four.
Do the Zeiss wipes stop fogging?
No. Their own product page says it plainly: a cleaning wipe, not an anti-fog product. They are excellent at smudges and they do nothing about fog.
Can I use these on my phone or camera?
The Zeiss wipes are made for that as well as glasses, and work on camera lenses and phone or tablet screens. The others are eyewear products, so use them on lenses.
How often do I reapply an anti-fog product?
Reapply when the fog-fighting starts to fade. FogBlocker rates each wipe of its cloth at roughly 24 hours, which is the maker's own figure. Cat Crap and the Anti Fog Stick do not publish a number, so go by whether it is still working.
Key takeaways
- Cleaning and anti-fog are two different jobs, and two of these six only clean.
- Peeps is a cleaner, not an anti-fog product, despite what people expect.
- The Zeiss wipes say so themselves: cleaning only.
- Cat Crap, the FogBlocker wipes and the FogBlocker cloth do both jobs at once.
- The Anti Fog Stick is for a lens you have already cleaned.
- If you hate reordering, Peeps and the FogBlocker cloth are the reusable two.
All six live in our anti-fog, lens cleaning and accessories collection. EyeClub is the online shop of Rockland Optometry, and if you are not sure which of these suits your lenses, call the clinic at 613-446-4401 or bring your glasses in.
This page is general information, not a substitute for an eye exam. Speak with your optometrist about your eyes.
EyeClub is owned and operated by Rockland Optometry. We earn revenue on products sold here. Product suggestions are general information, not individual medical advice.