How Should Glasses Fit Your Face?

Have you ever put on a pair of glasses and thought…

“They seem to fit okay.”

Okay? You know how I feel about okay. 😂

Your glasses might look fabulous, but if they're sliding down your nose, sitting on your cheeks, pinching behind your ears or constantly needing to be pushed back into place, they're not the right fit.

And here's something I wish more people knew:

Not every frame can be adjusted to fit every face.

Sometimes the problem isn't the adjustment.

It's the frame.

After more than 30 years working in optics, I've fitted a LOT of glasses, and I've learnt that sometimes just a few millimetres can make an enormous difference.

Your face is so much more than a shape

We hear a lot about choosing glasses for a round, square, oval or heart-shaped face.

Face shape matters, but when I'm fitting glasses, I'm looking at much more than that.

I'm looking at:

• The width of your face
• The length of your face
• Your bridge height and width
• Your cheekbones and cheeks
• How close together or wide apart your eyes are
• Where your eyebrows sit
• Where your ears sit
• Your prescription
• And how the frame sits when you smile

Yes… when you smile!

Because your glasses need to fit your face while you're actually living your life, not just while you're sitting perfectly still in front of a mirror.

Is your bridge low or high?

This is something many people have never thought about.

The bridge is the part of the frame that sits across your nose, and where it sits can completely change how your glasses fit.

Some people have a higher bridge, while others have a lower or flatter bridge.

If the bridge isn't right for you, your glasses might constantly slide down, sit too close to your eyes or simply never feel secure.

And no amount of pushing them back up your nose all day is going to make that enjoyable!

Sometimes adjustable nose pads are a fantastic solution.

Other times, we need a completely different bridge shape or size.

That's why I look at your nose and bridge, not just the number written on the side of the frame.

What about wider cheeks?

This is another big one.

Have you ever smiled and your cheeks push your glasses upwards?

Or perhaps the bottom of your frames constantly touches your cheeks?

The frame may be too deep, too narrow, sitting too low or simply the wrong shape for your facial structure.

Your cheekbones also play a part.

Two people can have exactly the same face width but need completely different frames because their features are structured differently.

This is why choosing glasses purely by measurements doesn't always work.

I need to see what the frame is actually doing on your face.

Is your face long or short?

The depth of your glasses — from the top to the bottom of the frame — can change the proportions of your face.

If you have a shorter face, a very deep frame may overwhelm your features or sit on your cheeks.

If you have a longer face, a frame that's too shallow can sometimes look a little lost.

Again, there isn't one magic rule.

I'm looking for balance.

The frame should complement your proportions rather than fight against them.

Where are your eyes sitting in the frame?

This is something I notice immediately.

Are your eyes sitting beautifully within the lenses?

Are they very close to the inner edges?

Are they sitting too far towards the outside?

We all have different distances between our eyes, and the shape and width of a frame can affect how balanced everything looks.

This isn't just about appearance either.

Depending on your prescription and lens design, frame choice and positioning can also be important for how your finished lenses perform.

So when I'm choosing a frame, I'm thinking about the lenses that are going into it too.

A gorgeous frame isn't much use if it's a poor choice for your prescription.

How wide should your glasses be?

Your glasses shouldn't squeeze the sides of your head.

But they shouldn't be so wide that they're constantly moving around either.

One of the most common problems I see is someone who has spent years believing they have a “difficult” face because standard frames are always too small or too big.

You don't have a difficult face.

You just haven't found the right size.

Some of my clients need petite frames.

Others need considerably wider frames.

And sometimes a standard off-the-shelf frame simply isn't going to give us what we need.

That's where having access to different sizing — and even custom-made eyewear — can completely change things.

Your eyelashes shouldn't be cleaning your lenses! 😂

If your eyelashes are constantly brushing against the inside of your lenses, something isn't right.

The frame might be sitting too close.

The bridge might not suit your nose.

The frame may need adjusting.

And on the opposite end, glasses sitting too far away from your eyes can cause their own problems.

These little details matter.

Your glasses shouldn't hurt

This sounds obvious, doesn't it?

But you'd be amazed how many people tell me:

“My glasses always hurt behind my ears.”

Or:

“I just assumed glasses were supposed to leave marks on my nose.”

No!

A properly fitted pair of glasses should feel secure without feeling like they're clamping your head.

There shouldn't be uncomfortable pressure behind your ears or on your temples.

They shouldn't be constantly sliding.

And you shouldn't be desperate to take them off by lunchtime.

Sometimes a tiny adjustment makes all the difference

This is where proper dispensing and fitting really matters.

A few millimetres here.

A slight adjustment there.

Changing the angle.

Adjusting the temples.

Getting the bridge sitting correctly.

I've had clients look at me as though I've performed some sort of magic trick because suddenly their glasses feel completely different. 😂

It's not magic.

It's knowing how glasses should fit.

And it's something I believe is just as important as choosing the frame in the first place.

What if normal glasses just don't fit you?

This is where I get particularly excited.

Because sometimes we've tried everything and the answer is simple:

You need something made for you.

I work with clients who have very petite faces, very wide faces, unusual bridge requirements or who have simply never been able to find glasses that fit properly.

With custom eyewear, we can look at changing things like the width, depth, bridge, temple length, shape and even the colours.

Rather than trying to make your face fit the glasses…

we make the glasses fit YOU.

And for someone who has spent years struggling with uncomfortable eyewear, that can be life-changing.

So, how should glasses fit your face?

They should feel comfortable and secure.

They should sit properly on your nose without constantly slipping.

They shouldn't dig into your temples or behind your ears.

They shouldn't bounce around when you move.

They should work with your cheeks and facial structure.

Your eyes should sit nicely within the frame.

And the frame should be suitable for your prescription and lenses.

But there's one more thing…

They should look bloody fabulous too.

Because I don't believe we should have to choose between glasses that fit beautifully and glasses we love.

I want you to have both.

Are you constantly adjusting your glasses?

If you've spent years pushing your glasses back up your nose, struggling to find frames wide enough, searching for something petite enough, or thinking that glasses simply aren't comfortable on you, I'd love to help.

During an Eyewear Styling Consultation, I don't just look at what suits you.

I look at how your glasses need to fit you.

Your bridge, your proportions, your colouring, your prescription, your lifestyle and your personality all come into it.

And if an off-the-shelf frame isn't the answer?

We'll look at other options.

Because your face isn't the problem.

You just need glasses designed to work with it.

Tracy 
The Glasses Lady 👓