How to Choose Glasses that Fit Your Face
Whether you’re getting your first pair of eyeglasses or you’ve been wearing them most of your life, finding glasses that fit your face is always a priority. By learning a few quick tips before you head to the optician, you’ll be able to find glasses that accentuate your positive features without having to try on every pair of glasses in the store.
Eye Position
While looking good in your new glasses is certainly a bonus, you ultimately want to ensure that your new specs will provide adequate vision correction. This means taking a little time to evaluate your eye position within the frames, as well as how they make your face look.
To do this, put the glasses on and look at yourself in the mirror. Where do your eyes line up? If they’re too close to the top of the frames, you may find that you look over the top of the frames instead of looking through the prescription lenses. If your eyes are too close to the outside edges of your frames, it could make it difficult for you to see things that aren’t 100% in front of you. For best results, look for frames that allow your pupils to be centered in the glasses horizontally and not too high vertically.
Frame Size
The size of the frames you select can impact your ability to see and your appearance. Since a size 50 frame in one style may be the same as a size 48 in another style, this part can take a little trial and error. Basically, look for frames that provide balance to your face. While you don’t want your glasses to be so large that they obscure your face, you also don’t want them to be so small that you have trouble seeing when you look through them.
Also, the length of the temples is critical. Long temples will allow your glasses to slide forward on your nose. Short temples will cause pain behind your ears and at your temples. Luckily, opticians have a great deal of experience helping you find the right length or alter the temples you have when they don’t come any shorter.
General Tips
Although there are seven basic face shapes that all come with recommended types of frames to buy and to avoid, you can still find a pair of glasses that completes your look without knowing your face type. Ultimately, it’s all about looking at what your face is lacking and finding glasses that balance it out.
For instance, people with angular faces can smooth their look by adding oval or circular glasses. If your face is all soft curves, rectangular glasses can provide the definition your face lacks. People unhappy with the size or spacing of their eyes can change their appearance simply by playing with the size of their frames.