A ClearMask™ Transparent Surgical Mask is not airtight along the sides of the mask, where air circulation occurs, thus allowing for comfort and breathability. All traditional masks have gaps on the sides, so this design is not entirely unique to the ClearMask™ brand; the only masks that don't have gaps are respirators that are properly fit tested. The ClearMask™ Transparent Surgical Mask provides an impervious frontal barrier against fluids and sprays, performing the same functions as traditional masks.

For more information, please refer to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s website regarding masks and respirators, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) comparison on surgical masks and respirators.