The way your frames sit on your face affects how clearly you see through your lenses and how long you can wear them comfortably. A pair that slides or pinches can make even an accurate prescription from your last eye exam feel off. Glasses fit well when the lenses sit centered over your pupils and the frame matches the width of your face, so they stay put without pressing on your nose or ears.
Where Glasses Should Sit on Your Face
Your glasses rest on 3 points: the bridge of your nose and the tops of both ears. If any of those points is off, the frame can tilt or slide out of position.
The bridge or nose pads should rest evenly on your nose without pinching. Look down at your phone a few times. If the frames hold their position, the bridge fits.
The temple arms should run straight back from the frame and curve gently over your ears. You’ll feel a light hold, but they shouldn’t dig into the sides of your head or leave sore spots after a few hours.
Check the front of the frame in a mirror, too. Your eyes should sit near the middle of each lens, with your eyebrows visible above the top edge. When you smile, the frames shouldn’t bump your cheeks or lift off your nose.
Why Eyeglass Lenses Need to Line Up with Your Pupils
Each lens has an optical center, which is the spot that gives you the clearest view through your prescription. To line it up with your eyes, your optician measures your pupillary distance (PD), the space between the centers of your pupils. Most adults fall somewhere between 50 and 75 millimeters.
When the lenses sit off-center, you end up looking through the wrong part of each one. An incorrect PD can lead to headaches and blurry vision, even if your prescription is right.
A frame that’s too wide or sits crooked can also pull the lenses out of line with your eyes, even when your PD was measured correctly.
How to Read Eyeglass Frame Size Numbers
Most frames have their size printed on the inside of one of the temple arms. Look closely, and you’ll likely see 3 numbers, such as 50-19-140, all in millimeters. The first is the lens width, the second is the bridge width, and the third is the temple length.
If your current pair fits well, write those numbers down before you shop. They give your optician a useful starting point when you try on new styles.
Signs Your Glasses Don’t Fit Right
Fit problems often develop gradually, so you may get used to them before you notice anything’s wrong. Watch for a few of these:
- Frames that slide down your nose when you look down
- Red marks or dents on the bridge of your nose
- Soreness behind your ears
- Headaches or tired eyes by the end of the day
- One lens that sits higher than the other
Bring your glasses in when you notice any of these. Screws and hinges can loosen with everyday wear, and a quick adjustment can put the frames back in place.
How to Fix Glasses That Slide or Pinch
Most fit problems come down to the nose pads or the temple arms. If your glasses slide, your optician may tilt the nose pads so they grip more evenly or bend the temple tips so they hold more securely behind your ears.
Frames that squeeze the sides of your head usually need the opposite. Loosening the temples or slightly widening the frame front can relieve that pressure, and our opticians can make these adjustments in a few minutes.
Avoid bending your frames at home. Forcing them can crack the frame or loosen the hinges, which can leave you with a worse fit than before.
How to Choose Glasses Frames for Your Face
Start with a frame that matches your face width, then consider shape. Angular frames can add definition to a round face. If your jawline is square, try rounder or oval frames to soften it. Oval faces suit a wide range of shapes, so you have more room to experiment.
Frames for Your Activities and Lifestyle
Next, think about where you’ll wear your glasses most. If you play sports or spend a lot of time outdoors, wraparound styles can stay in place while you move.
Progressive lenses need precise fitting because they place your distance, intermediate, and reading zones in a single lens. If you wear progressives, choose a frame tall enough to hold each zone. Your optician will take a few extra measurements to line those zones up with your eyes.
Find a Comfortable Fit for Your Next Pair of Glasses
Glasses that fit well can make it easy to forget you’re wearing them. Our opticians at Total Vision Pasadena can check how your current pair sits and help you find new frames that suit your face and your daily routine.
Book an appointment and bring your glasses along so we can take a look at what you’re already working with.
