The Eyewear Guide: How Should Glasses Fit?
A well-fitting pair of eyeglasses can enhance your vision. They can even update your wardrobe or inspire a new look. Before you take the exciting step to shop for new glasses, there are a few important details to consider. First, imagine your ideal frame shape and colors. Next, consider the type of correction you need. Your face shape also matters. With all of this in mind, how should glasses fit – and how do you know if you are choosing the best frames before you make your purchase?
Here at Peepers, we are all about self-expression through eyewear. We wrote the guide to how glasses fit so you know how to achieve the right look and feel for your specs. You will also learn more about the best choices in lenses and styles in reading glasses for men and women. Discover other popular selections like polarized sunglasses and blue light glasses, all while learning just how affordable they really are.
How Glasses Should Fit on your Face
When your glasses fit well, they will look proportionate on your face. They will also help to accentuate your unique facial features while staying comfortable enough for daily wear. To achieve the best fit, it is essential to know how to position your eyeglass frames on your face. Consider the following details:
Frame Position
Frames that are too narrow for your face will make it look wider than it really is. Eyeglasses that are too wide for your face will make it look narrower than it should be. To ensure your glasses complement your appearance, it is helpful to create a reference point for your frame position.
Start by checking that your frames align horizontally with your eyes. The top of your glasses should sit at or below the level of your eyebrows. The bottom edge of your eyeglass frames should be positioned slightly away from your cheeks to prevent discomfort. Glasses should fit comfortably on your nose while you work or read.
Eye Position
Eyes should be in the center of your lenses for optimal vision. This is true no matter what kind of lenses you need. For best eye positioning, find a frame that sits slightly wider than your face. For the best fit, the frames should sit no more than a finger width between the arm or temple of your glasses and your face. Any wider and your frames are probably too wide for your facial features.
Bridge Position
The bridge is an important part of ensuring your glasses fit well. When fitting properly, your eyes are aligned with the lenses. This part is also about how your frames feel. The bridge of your eyewear should never pinch your nose, but it also should not slide around. If you feel any discomfort in this area, consider a different fit.
How to Measure Yourself for Well-Fitting Eyewear
Now that you know more about how glasses should fit on your face, it is also important to understand how measurements are used to make eyewear. There are certain numbers that make the custom fit for your glasses. If you receive prescription glasses from an eye doctor or a laboratory, they will use some (or all) of these measurements to make your frames and lenses.
If you would like, you can write down the measurements at home. This approach will help you to find the right fit for the glasses that you buy online. The following measurements will help you to find the perfect fit for your eyeglasses:
Lens Width
The lens width is the horizontal diameter of one lens at the widest point. It is measured from one side of the lens to the other. Like most figures for eyewear, it is measured in millimeters. The most common widths for lenses are 31-60 mm. Eye doctors may refer to it as your “eye size.”
Lens Height
Lens height is the vertical height of the lenses from the tallest point of the inside of your frame. This number helps ensure your eyes sit correctly and comfortably behind your lenses. If you get progressive lenses or bifocals, this number is especially important. To get this figure, you can measure the lens vertically at the tallest point. Bifocal or progressive lenses must be at least 30 mm to function properly.
Smaller lens sizes are typically 48 mm or less in width. Medium lenses usually range between 49-52 mm, while the widest ones are usually larger than 53 mm. To evaluate your lens size, be sure that your eyes are perfectly centered within the lenses. Check for the placement of your pupils. When frames are too wide, your eyes can appear too close together, while narrow frames will make your eyes appear like they are too wide set.
Bridge Width
The bridge width is at the space where the frames fit against the nose. It is the distance between the two lenses and usually measures between 16-23mm. To get the bridge width, measure horizontally at the narrowest point of the bridge from one edge of the lens to the other.
Frame Width
Your frame width should be slightly wider than your face. To get this number, measure Measure the distance between the screws that attach the frame front to the temples in millimeters.
Temple Length
The arms or temples of your glasses connect to the front of the frame on either side. They wrap around and rest behind your ears, helping to keep your eyewear comfortable and secure. The temple length of your glasses will help you to know if they will sit over your ears without causing pain or discomfort. They should always fit comfortably horizontally and fit evenly on the sides of your head.
The arm or temple length does not vary as much as the other measurements. It is usually somewhere between 135 and 155 mm, with figures between 135 and 150 mm being the most common. You can find the temple length by by measuring at the beginning of the temple at the hinge break to the end of the temple tip. Consider going up or down on the measurement if the arms feel too short or too long behind your ears.
How to Measure a Current Pair of Glasses
As you see above, accurate measurements will help you to find the best fit for your glasses. If you wore glasses in the past, you could use the measurements from eyeglasses that already fit. This will help you to quickly find the right eyewear for your face and vision.
Some glasses have measurements located on the inside of the temples. Read from left to right for the lens width, bridge width and temple length. The lens width and bridge width should have two digits, while the temple length should have three. While the bridge width will usually be within a few mm from the measurement of the glasses you wear, you do have some room for adjustments on the lens width and temple length. To get the best fit, avoid adjusting by more than a couple of millimeters.
How to Find the Best-Fitting Frames for Your Face
Along with the above measurements, the right glasses shape will help you to get the most fashionable frames for your look. There are several modern and classic designs that are appropriate for sunglasses and reading glasses for women and men. The key to finding the right frames lies in the shape of your face. First, find your face shape. Next, discover some of the most popular choices to help you get started:
Square
A timeless yet bold choice in eyewear, square glasses flatter many faces. However, they are best suited for people with rounded features, as they naturally slim and elongate the face. Square frames offer a natural balance and allow for bigger lenses. While they offer the most coverage for vision correction, they also allow for a style that is fun and daring. Retro-inspired designs are popular, while neutral-colors and tortoise shell are timeless selections for work and play.
Rectangle
Rectangle glasses are a cool and chic alternative to square glasses. They also help to accentuate softer facial features. Best for heart-shaped faces and rounded jawlines, they include nice, clean lines that make the face look longer. These modern staples match any look. From bright hues to animal prints, you cannot go wrong with rectangle readers or blue light glasses.
Round
Round glasses are lightweight and comfortable. They are also excellent for balancing angled jawlines and square faces. Both women and men like their style because they are luxe and polished without overwhelming face shapes. While all colors and prints look great with rounded eyewear, you cannot miss with must-have patterns like horn and quartz.
Even More Stylish Frames
Some other popular styles of frames include aviator glasses and cat eye glasses. Soft-square glasses and oversize glasses look classic on many types of faces. Whether you want a playful look or need high-coverage frames for a larger viewing area, a combination of style and helpful features will help you to find the best eyewear for your needs.
Using a Glasses Style Finder
If you still need inspiration, you can use a glasses style finder to help you find the right eyewear for your needs and your personality. Created by experts in eyewear, this interactive guide allows you to click through simple selections to help you find out which frames you may prefer. It is easy to browse through men’s and women’s styles. Decide whether you want readers, sunglasses or blue light glasses. Next, take a look at some of the shapes you like best. Narrowing down by the features and looks that you want can make it much easier to shop for the right pair for your needs.
Understand Some Other Considerations for Eyewear
Your style and your unique measurements are critical considerations for finding your ideal pair of eyewear. Focusing on these areas will help you to feel more confident about purchasing glasses. Here are a few more considerations for getting the right fit:
Correction Needs
Some people wear glasses for style. Others need readers to combat the effects of aging on vision or blue light glasses to prevent digital eye strain or computer vision syndrome (CVS). Polarized sunglasses can make it more comfortable to drive and complete activities outside. Zone corrections and lenses like bifocals or progressives are also necessary for some people.
Some eye conditions require a prescription from an eye doctor. Most reading glasses and blue light lenses can be purchased from eyewear companies online. You can also get sunglasses while shopping from home. Decide whether you require a fit from your doctor or whether you can use your measurements to purchase glasses from your favorite online store.
Affordability
A variety of factors affect how much eyeglasses cost. Prescription eyewear can be expensive. According to Consumer Reports, you can expect to pay between $100 and $400 for prescription spectacles. If you need reading glasses, blue light protection or polarization for your lenses, it helps to skip the high costs. You can get well-fitting frames from Peepers for a fraction of what you would spend on a prescription. These glasses will still fit the same and have the same quality, but without the sticker shock. Our fun fashions for women and men start at just $27.
Find the Perfect Pair of Eyeglasses
It is possible to find the perfect pair of eyewear for your face. Now you know that the best glasses will fit properly and feel comfortable as long as you wear them. They will also help with your vision correction needs while flattering your appearance. Using a glasses style finder and understanding more about your glasses measurements can make the process more fun and convenient. There is a pair of stylish and functional glasses out there for everyone, which makes it even more exciting to get started.