INNOVATION Hydrophilic Film: A Breakthrough in Anti-Fogging Technology – by Gil Zeimer, ScubaStoryteller.com and Zeimer.com, San Rafael, CA As a PADI diver since 1985, Gil has authored more than 300 scuba articles and newsletters that have appeared in over 25 magazines and websites. He looks forward to presenting two seminars at DEMA 2025.
I recently had the opportunity to interview Dr. Karl Hamouche, an Iowa-based radi- ologist, swimmer, coach, and inventor with multiple patents. He and his partner, Brent Kiomall, are the co-founders of Fog-X Solu- tions, as well as a variety of other
and practice, the book and the real world. I’ve been prac- ticing radiology here in Ames since Summer of 2024. Can you tell me about your partner and Fog-X co- founder? Brent Kiomall is my partner in Fog-X. As an avid cave diver, he has a big following for @brentdives on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube. I reached out to him, and he was one of the few who responded to try it. He slapped them on once before diving, didn’t even follow instructions, and said it was both amazing and so much better than what he was using. Because he’d had other businesses, he mentored me about how to launch this product last year at DEMA, where we met for the first time. We’re now partners. So, What is Fog-X?
products. Based in Ames, Iowa, and Peachtree City, Geor- gia, they invented Fog-X in 2019 and it’s been clearing the air on the mask-fogging problem affecting most divers, snorkelers, and swimmers ever since. It was very popular during its DEMA 2024 debut, and the company is now poised for rapid expansion. Hi Karl. First, can you tell us a bit about yourself? I was born in Lebanon, moved to Iowa when I was 12 years old, and joined the local swim team. Though I was 8,000 miles from my first home, I instantly became part of a new family. I was a pretty good athlete, so I swam competitively for 15 years through college and medical school. Years later, I coached my original swim team, helping it win its first club state title,
Hydrophilic Film – on Right Side
It’s a hydrophilic film that can be applied to goggles and diving masks to prevent fogging. We in- troduced it at DEMA last fall, and retailers were lined up outside our booth every day throughout the event.
What are the advantages of Fog-X Solutions vs. all the anti- fogging sprays and gels that almost everyone now uses? First, it keeps your mask clear for hours, lasting months or even years, vs. reapplying anti-fogging gels before each dive, and being the last one in the water on your boat. Second, it applies in seconds. You clean your mask, cut the Fog-X inserts to size if needed, peel off the protective layers, and stick the anti-fog inserts into your swim goggles or dive masks. Then you press out the bubbles, hydrate the film by wetting and rubbing it before use, and enjoy fog- free swimming or diving. Third, Fog-X inserts are very durable and virtually last forever (well, at least a year), so they don’t need to be reap- plied every dive like anti-fogging sprays and gels. Fourth, they work well in all types of water –– swimming pools, freshwater lakes, and the ocean.
which gave me great satisfaction. Do you still find time to swim?
Definitely. I still swim almost daily and compete multiple times a year in my age bracket. My daily interactions give me new ideas and insights into how we can help to improve my swimming as well as my students. Where did you earn your undergrad and medical de- grees? I studied biology and exercise science at Iowa State Uni- versity in my adopted town of Ames, then earned my med- ical degree at the University of Iowa in Iowa City. I did my residency in radiology with the University of Kansas in Wi- chita and another year of training at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City. Between my coaching and swimming background, I’ve found myself at the intersection of theory
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