Tips for Finding the Most Flattering, Well-Fitting Eyeglass Frames

How to Find the Perfect Pair of Glasses for Your Face Shape

Finding the ideal pair of glasses that flatters your facial features can seem tricky. But have no fear, with a few tips on how to select eyeglass frames based on your face shape, you'll be rocking a stylish look in no time.

Your face shape and features impact which styles and shapes of glasses tend to be most complementing. Once you understand what flatters you best, you can confidently shop online or in stores while avoiding unflattering pairs.

Determine Your Face Shape

The first step is identifying whether your face shape is:

• Oval
• Round
• Square
• Heart
• Oblong
• Diamond

Oval faces are slightly longer than wide with a curved jawline. Round faces are roughly equal in length and width with soft, rounded edges. Square faces have sharp, well-defined angles with strong jaw and forehead lines.

Heart shaped faces are defined by a wide forehead and cheekbones that taper to a narrow chin. Oblong faces are noticeably longer than wide. Finally, diamond faces are angular with high cheekbones and a narrow chin and forehead.

Identify Your Facial Features

In addition to your overall face shape, analyze key features like:

• Forehead size
• Cheekbone prominence
• Jaw and chin shape
• Nose size and shape

Consider if your features are more angular or curved. Do certain features like a large forehead or strong jawline dominate? Making notes of these traits will help select the most flattering glasses.

Choose Frame Shapes for Your Face

Use your face shape and feature analysis to pick frame styles that enhance your natural beauty. Some guidelines for different face shapes include:

Oval Faces

Lucky you - oval faces suit virtually every glasses style. Feel free to experiment widely with shapes. But cat eye, oval, and aviator frames tend to be especially striking.

Round Faces

Balance roundness with angular narrow frames. Rectangular styles in particular help elongate a circular face. Embrace height and avoid short or curved frames.

Square Faces

Soften sharp angles with rounder frames like ovals and cat eyes. Curved shapes help downplay hardness. Avoid boxy rectangular styles to prevent exacerbating squareness.

Heart Faces

Draw attention downward to balance a wide upper face. Rounded bottom edges like in cat eye frames flatter this shape. Low set frames also create proportion.

Oblong Faces

Shorten the appearance of a long face with frames that are wider than they are tall. Oversize square or rounded frames add width. Embrace tops of colors for dimension.

Diamond Faces

Soften sharpness with oval and rimless frames. Cathedral styles also help downplay extreme angles. Avoid narrow frames that further elongate the face.

Additional Frame Style Considerations

In addition to the frame shape, styles elements like size, color, and special features can make a frame more or less flattering.

Frame Size Tips

Glasses that are too small or large for your face can feel unbalanced and awkward. Frame size impacts the overall look dramatically.

• Larger faces require full-size frames to match proportions.
• Delicate features are better complemented by small, narrow frames.
• The top of full-frame glasses should align with brows.
• Rimless frames should not extend past the face's width.

Frame Color Considerations

Frame color impacts both style and contrast with skin tone. Some suggestions include:

• Cold skin tones suit black, brown, silver, and blue frames.
• Warm skin tones are complemented by red, gold, green, and tortoise colors.
• Similar skin and frame color minimizes contrast.
• Complimentary colors like red and green glasses intensify contrast.

Specialized Feature Options

Modern eyeglass frames offer endless design innovations. Consider features like:

• Bold patterns for fashion focal points.
• Mirrored lenses to downplay prominence of wide set eyes.
• Frosted temple tips soften the transition at glasses edges.
• Adjustable nose pads prevent slipping.

How to Accurately Determine Your Frame Size

Finding the right frame size ensures proper fit as well as an optically flattering look. But confusing terminology makes identifying sizes tricky. Here's how to make sense of standard frame measurements:

Understand the Frame Parts

Glasses frames consist of the optical lenses plus plastic or metal components surrounding them called the chassis. The chassis includes the front frame holding lenses as well as arms on sides, bridge over nose, and temples sweeping back towards ears.

Frame Size vs. Lens Size

Frame size denotes the dimensions of the plastic or metal components. Lens size refers to dimensions of the actual curved glass or plastic optical lenses in front filtering light.

So frame size includes the spaces housing lenses plus surrounding chassis. Lens size relates to viewing area only.

Measuring Frame Size Numerically

The standard numerical sizing system for eyeglass frames uses three numbers in millimeters to designate key dimensions:

• First # is horizontal lens width
• Second # is bridge width over nose
• Third # is arm length from lenses to temple tips

So a size denoted as 51-21-145 frames would have 51mm wide lenses, 21mm nose bridge, and arms that are 145mm long front to back.

Guidelines for Finding Your Frame Size

The ideal frame size balances your facial proportions and eyewear needs. Follow these general fitting rules for choosing the best dimensions:

Lens Width Guide

Lens width impacts viewing magnification and field of vision. Wider lenses increase these. Ideal lens width aligns inside edges of frames with pupils when looking straight ahead. Average sizes tend to be:

• Small faces: 44-48 mm
• Medium faces: 48-52 mm
• Large faces: 54-60 mm

Bridge Width Options

Bridge width helps frames set stably on nose. Average bridge sizes typically work best:

• Women: 16-20 mm
• Men: 20-22 mm

Adjust if the frame feels too loose and slips down or digs into nose causing discomfort.

Getting the Arm Length Right

The arm length impacts comfort and stability behind ears. To determine ideal temple arm length:

• Fold glasses closed to mimic wearing
• Measure from corner of eyes back past ears
• Add an extra 5-15 mm to allow flexing when worn

Proper arm length helps prevent glasses from slipping forward on face over time.

Tips for Picking Kids Eyeglass Frames

Selecting cute frames kids will actually wear requires balancing child preferences with parent practicality. Follow these tips when shopping for children's eyeglasses:

Involve Kids in Choosing

Having some choice invests kids in actually sporting their new specs. But guide selections towards durable, well-sized options.

Emphasize Sturdy Materials

Active youngsters need flexible but robust frames materials that can take a beating. Opt for lightweight combinations of titanium, TR90 nylon, or stainless steel.

Focus on Fit

Ill-fitting glasses won't stay put and can even cause discomfort. Have child try on frames and check proportions. Seek adjustable features like rubber nose pads to self-correct minor shifting issues.

Consider Lens Enhancements

Fortify lenses against everyday damage by selecting polycarbonate lens material. Or explore specialty coatings that provide built-in protection from scratches.

Inquire About Warranties

Damage protection plans help safeguard your eyewear investment. Children's plans often cover free replacement due to loss or accidental breakage.

Why Proper Bridge Fit Matters

An often overlooked but essential aspect of frame fitting involves adjusting the bridge. This narrow bar between lenses should align perfectly to the bridge of your nose for ideal comfort and performance.

Impacts Frame Stability

Well balanced bridge width and placement enables glasses to set more securely on your face without slipping. Proper nose contouring better distributes weight for reduced sliding and movement.

Influences View Clarity

Precise bridge positioning keeps optical lenses aligned correctly in front of your pupils for clearest sight lines. Off-center dropping can distort vision, cause eye strain, and create an off-balance feeling.

Affects Wearing Comfort

Bridge mismatches that let frames rest too high, low, or tilted frequently lead to discomfort like skin irritation, indentions, and red marks across the nose. But a flush bridge to nose bridge fit prevents unnecessary rubbing in sensitive areas.

Tips for Adjusting Your Eyeglasses Bridge

Customizing bridge alignment optimizes vision accuracy, stability, and wearing comfort. Use these simple methods to tweak bridge fit:

Check Alignment

Start by analyzing if and where bridge connections to frames touch nose. Target any gaps causing tilting or lifting. Also check lenses align squarely in front of eyes without dropping edges.

Locate Adjustment Screws

Many modern frames feature tiny screws along the bottom of the lenses near bridge. Tighten or loosen these incrementally to narrow or widen bridge width for ideal spacing across your nose bridge.

Carefully Bend Wire Bridges

For traditional wire bridges, use protected pliers to gently bend the flexible metal core nearer your nose. Take care not to bend so far as to misshape bridge sides still needing to connect into frames.

Try Nose Pad Options

Another way to effectively raise glasses is swapping out standard nose pads for taller, angled ones. Self-adjusting rubberized pads also create better grip across more nose bridge variations.

Signs You Need an Eye Exam for Updated Glasses

Small vision changes creep up gradually over time. But accurately updated prescriptions keep your glasses working their best. Watch for these clues indicating it may be time for an updated eye exam:

Squinting, Straining, or Headaches

Having to squint to see clearly, especially for reading, frequently signals a prescription needing tweaks. Ongoing eye tiredness and headaches after short periods of glasses wear may also indicate more than an adjustment is needed.

Blurred Vision

If your vision through your lenses seems consistently blurry for either distance or up close focusing, revised measurements and prescriptions strengths could help glasses better correct your eyes' changing refraction abilities.

Difficult Night or Low Light Vision

Problems seeing well to drive safely at night point to potential updates needed in your prescription. Trouble adjusting in dim lighting may require prescription boosts to increase available focusing power under low light conditions.

Viewing Imbalances

If one eye sees noticeably better than the other through your lenses, depth perception and focus can suffer. This signals one or both eyes may benefit from updated prescriptions to rebalance alignment and teamwork between your eyes.

Schedule regular eye exams even when you think vision is fine to make sure your frames always showcase your eyes at their best!

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.