4 Ways to Tell If Your Glasses Fit You Correctly
Finding the right eyeglasses goes beyond just choosing a good pair of frames and lenses; it’s essential to select a pair that fits perfectly. The right fit not only provides comfort but also ensures optimal vision, allowing you to see clearly and feel great throughout the day.
Eyeglasses with an improper fit can cause discomfort. Have you ever had glasses that constantly slip down your nose? Yup, that’s probably because those frames didn’t fit you correctly. Beyond this discomfort, ill-fitting eyeglasses can also cause eye strain, headaches, and dizziness.
How can you tell if your eyeglasses fit properly? In this guide, we’ll help you determine how to find glasses that are perfectly suited for your face.
What Is the Proper Fit for Glasses?
Correct-fitting eyeglasses should rest comfortably on the bridge of your nose. They should not press on the sides of your head or your cheeks. They shouldn’t be higher above your eyebrows, and they shouldn’t press against your forehead either. However, making sure the frames fit well on your face is not enough. Proper glasses fitting also means adjusting the optical center of your lenses.
Correct-fitting eyeglasses should rest comfortably on the bridge of your nose. They should not press on the sides of your head or your cheeks. They shouldn’t be higher above your eyebrows, and they shouldn’t press against your forehead either. However, making sure the frames fit well on your face is not enough. Proper lens fitting is also essential to make sure these are adjusted to the optical center of your vision.
This means ensuring a precise alignment, keeping your eyeglasses at the correct distance from your pupils, and the frames balance well on your face. This allows you to see well through your lenses. Lenses that are not positioned correctly relative to your eyes can lead to vision problems.
Aside from the things mentioned above, choosing the right lenses according to your lifestyle is also crucial, as it directly impacts the functionality and effectiveness of your eyeglasses for daily activities. Whether you need lenses specifically designed for reading, computer work, or outdoor use, selecting the appropriate lens type ensures that your vision is optimized for your unique needs and enhances your overall comfort throughout the day.
1. Frame Width: How Wide Should Your Glasses Be?
The frame width of your glasses should align with the width of your face at your temples. Your frames should not extend past the side of your face; otherwise, your eyes won’t be centered in the middle of your lenses.
If you find yourself constantly pushing your glasses back up your nose, it’s an indication that they may be too wide for you. If they extend too far beyond your ears, your frames might be too big. On the other hand, glasses that are too tight will dig into your temples or put pressure on your nose.
2. Bridge Fit: How Should Glasses Sit on Your Nose?
Your eyeglasses should sit comfortably on the bridge of your nose without slipping too much. The bridge or nose pads of your glasses should rest easily on your nose without causing too much pressure or compression. Your glasses should be balanced as well; you shouldn’t have to constantly tilt them.
How should glasses fit on your nose? Your frames should fit securely on the bridge without pinching. You should be able to move your head side to side and tilt your head down without your glasses moving. They shouldn’t sit too far up your nose that they’re pressing on your cheeks, nor should they sit so far that you’re looking down to see through the lenses.
If you have a high nose bridge or a big nose, you’d do well with glasses that have a low bridge and adjustable nose pads with geometric and angular frames. A lower bridge prevents the frames from resting too high on your nose, while angular frames can draw attention from your nose, helping create a more balanced look. Alternatively, if you have a low nose bridge, you’d benefit from frames with a higher nose bridge, as these will prevent your frames from slipping down. You also want to look for frames with large nose pads to ensure your glasses fit snugly and the pressure is distributed evenly, away from your cheeks.
If you have a high bridge nose or a big nose, you’d do well with high nose bridge glasses with a saddle bridge design or wide bridge measurements. This will help distribute the weight evenly on your face, reducing the pressure on your nose. Alternatively, if you have a low bridge or a flat nose, you’d benefit from Asian-fit frames with adjustable nose pads. This will prevent slippage and ensure that your glasses fit comfortably on your face.
3. Temple Arms: How Should Glasses Sit on Your Ears?
The temples of your glasses are the long stems that connect the front of your eyewear to the back of your head. These are the stems that rest on top of your ears when you wear your glasses.
Eyeglasses temples should be long enough to ensure the correct fit of your frames. They must be able to bend at a 45-degree angle beyond the top of your ears, conforming to the shape of your head. This will keep your frames securely in place without causing any pressure or discomfort to your ears.
4. Lens Alignment: Where Should Your Eyes Be in Your Glasses?
Your lenses should be aligned with the center of your eyes, with your pupils looking at the middle of your lenses. This alignment is applicable both horizontally and vertically. In other words, your eyes should not be too far left or right, nor too far up or down from your lenses. If your lenses are not properly aligned, this can cause distortion or require you to tilt your glasses consistently to see through the correct part of the lens.
How is lens alignment measured? This is done by getting your pupillary distance (PD), the distance between the pupils of your eyes in millimeters. Your optometrist or optician can measure your pupillary distance to center your frames in front of your eyes. Proper glasses fitting ensures that your lenses are positioned correctly, allowing you to have optimal vision and comfort.
Signs Your Glasses Don’t Fit Right
There are common tell-tale signs that your glasses don’t fit right. Here are some things to look out for.
1. Glasses Sliding Down the Nose
Your eyeglasses should only slide down your nose if you push them — they shouldn’t slide down on their own during daily activities. They should stay securely in place even when you move your head. If you find yourself constantly having to push your glasses up, then your frames might be too big or wide for you.
2. Falling Off Your Face
Have you experienced having your glasses fall off your face while you were bending to pick up something? If your glasses fell off your face while you were looking downward, this is a huge sign that your frames don’t fit you correctly. The hinges might be too loose or worn out, the temples might not be positioned properly, or the frames might simply be too big for you.
3. Deep Marks on Your Nose
If you take off your glasses and see red marks or indentations at the point of contact with your face, your glasses don’t fit. Properly fitted glasses shouldn’t press onto your nose and leave marks.
4. Headaches and Dizziness
It's normal to experience an adjustment period when you get new prescription glasses, but your eyewear shouldn't make you feel dizzy each time you wear it. Headaches and nausea can result from eye strain, which may occur due to ill-fitting glasses or lenses that don't match your prescription. If your lenses are not properly aligned, you might have trouble focusing.
If you’re constantly experiencing headaches and dizziness every time you wear glasses, schedule an eye exam with an optometrist so you can pin down the root cause of the problem.
How to Choose Glasses That Fit Perfectly
Now that you know how glasses should feel, here are some additional things to consider in choosing glasses that fit you perfectly.
Pick the Right Frame For Your Face Shape
Choosing a frame that complements your face shape is key to achieving both comfort and style. For example, if you have a round face, you’d do well with picking angular or geometric frames. If you have a square face, choose frames that are round or oval in shape to balance out your sharp jawline and forehead.
Picking the right frame for your face shape not only enhances your overall look, but it also ensures the frames sit comfortably on your face.
Try Glasses On Before Buying
You already know which frames fit your face shape and nose bridge, and you think you’ve found the perfect pair of glasses for you online, but before you check those out, hold that thought for a second!
Before buying frames, test several pairs in person to get a feel of how the different materials and styles fit. This helps you pick frames that feel as good as they look. Look for frames that are snug but are not too tight and don’t slip or pinch. You can even walk around, move your head, and simulate other daily activities to ensure that the frames stay comfortably in place.
Lens Measurements and Frame Sizes
To ensure that the frame size you choose will fit you correctly, determine what frame size fits you correctly. This is done by taking three key measurements: lens width, bridge width, and temple length. If you already have an old pair of glasses, you can base your frame size on these measurements. These numbers are found on the temple of your eyewear.
- Lens width: This is the horizontal width of your lenses, measured at the widest point. It typically measures from 40 mm to 60 mm.
- Bridge width: This is the distance between your lenses. It’s also the space where the frames fit against your nose. It typically measures 14 mm to 24 mm.
- Temple length: This is the length of the temples or “arms” of your glasses, extending from the hinge to the end of the temple tip. The temple length is typically 120 mm to 150 mm long.
Get Expert Glasses Fitting at George Optical
The right pair of glasses should always strike a balance between comfort, clarity, and style. Anything that’s slightly off—whether it's nose pads pinching tightly on your nose bridge or misaligned lens placements making you squint — can cause you discomfort and affect your daily activities. Remember that your glasses should work for your daily life, not against it.
Opticians and optometrists are the experts in fitting your glasses to your face. At George Optical, our team of expert eye doctors utilizes comprehensive vision analysis and state-of-the-art equipment to precisely adjust your lenses according to your face shape, ensuring optimal vision and maximum comfort.
Book an eye exam now with George Optical or visit any of our stores to get your next pair of glasses!
Sources:
https://www.allaboutvision.com/eyewear/eyeglasses/fit/eyeglasses-temple-size/