How Should Glasses Fit?

Your glasses provide you with clear vision every time you wear them. If you’re wearing your glasses daily, they should fit comfortably on your ears and nose. Your optometrist and optician can help fit your glasses, but how do you know if they fit well? 

Continue reading to learn more about your glasses, including how they should fit and how to know if yours need a readjustment.

The Importance of Proper Fitting Glasses

Buying glasses online is becoming more popular because of their convenience and affordability. However, these frames and lenses may not fit well because they come in premade sizes. 

Properly fitted glasses are important for many reasons, including: 

• Comfort: Poorly fitting glasses can be uncomfortable and irritate your nose, ears, or eyes. 
• Safety: Loose glasses can be distracting or fall off, affecting your vision. 
• Appearance: Poorly fitted glasses may look awkward or unprofessional if you use them for work. 

Visiting your optometrist’s office is a way to ensure your glasses look and fit great. They have the technology available to take accurate measurements and make necessary adjustments. 

How Should Glasses Fit? 

Your glasses should fit just right—not too loose or too tight. Your optometrist or optician will help ensure your glasses fit properly by measuring different aspects of your face. 

Optometry offices use measurement technology to get detailed measurements for your frames and lenses. Your optician uses these measurements to ensure your glasses sit comfortably on your eyes, nose, and ears. 

Eyes

Your pupils should line up with the centre of each lens when looking straight ahead. Your optical team will measure your pupillary distance to ensure your glasses fit well. If your glasses have the correct measurements, the distance between the corner of your eye and the lens’s edge should be equal on both sides. 

Nose

Your frames should balance equally across your nose or on the nose pads of the frames. Properly measured frames won’t dig into your skin. 

Temples

The temples of your glasses are the parts that fit around your ears, keeping your frames in place. They must be long enough to fit securely without being too tight or loose.

The Key Measurements Needed for Your Glasses

Your optician will take these measurements before checking the fit of your glasses and adjust them if needed to ensure you feel satisfied with the final product. 

You’ll notice your glasses frames have 3 numbers related to your fit: 

• Lens width: Lens width is the horizontal length of each lens.
• Bridge width: Bridge width is the distance between your lenses. 
• Temple length: Temple length is the length of each temple, beginning at the frame’s hinge. 

What About Face Shape? 

Another important aspect of your glasses is how they complement your face shape. Each person has a unique face, but everyone has certain appearances described as round, square, oval, or heart-shaped. 

Your face shape helps your optician find and recommend frames that help accentuate your natural features. The goal is to create a visual balance when someone looks at you. 

Common face shapes include: 

• Oval
• Round
• Square
• Rectangle
• Heart
• Diamond

Besides your face shape, skin tone and hair colour can help narrow the best colours for your frames.

Signs Your Glasses Don’t Fit Well

Sometimes your glasses may not sit properly on your face, making them uncomfortable or difficult to wear. You may have bought them from a third-party seller, or your precise measurements weren’t taken. 

There are several signs your glasses may not fit well: 

• Glasses slide off your nose: Your glasses may fit poorly if they slide off your nose when you tilt your head. 
• Loose glasses: If your glasses fly off whenever you turn your head quickly, they may be too loose. 
• Glasses pinch your nose: If your glasses leave spots on your nose, you may have poorly fitted nose pads. If you have plastic frames, they may be too heavy, or the bridge width may be too small. 
• Glasses feel tight: If your glasses leave marks around your cheeks, they may be too tight at the temples or near your ears. 
• Eye strain: Eye strain can occur when your glasses aren’t the ideal distance from your pupils. 

Visit your eye doctor if your glasses do any of these things. They and the opticians at the office can help measure, fit, and adjust your glasses so you enjoy comfortable vision. 

Invest in Well-Fitting Frames & Lenses

Glasses should rest easily on your face while meeting your vision needs. Poorly fitting frames and lenses can affect your comfort and vision, making it difficult to wear your glasses. With help from your optometrist and optician, you can enjoy clear, comfortable vision. 

Contact your eye doctor at Toronto Centre Eye Care if you’re interested in a new pair of glasses.