Much like wearing a shirt that is too tight and gapes at the buttons, or a pair of trousers that are too loose and constantly need to be pulled up; when your glasses don’t fit properly, it shows. Worse still, these ill-fitting frames can cause discomfort, pain, and frustration, and even obscure your vision. We have rounded up the six most obvious signs that your glasses don’t fit correctly and share our essential tips to find spectacles that make you see, look, and feel better.
YOUR GLASSES ARE TOO NARROW FOR YOUR FACE
One of the most noticeable signs of badly-fitting glasses is when they are too narrow for your face. When the width of the frame front is insufficient, the arms (also known as temples) will strain over the sides of your face. This narrowness creates the effect that you are squeezing your head into a pair of glasses, and it probably feels like it too.
Solution: Opt for wider frames that match the width of your face. Remember, (glasses) temples should not touch (face) temples. Instead, the arms of your glasses should extend back to your ear in a straight line, only touching the side of your head just before the arm meets your ear.
THE TEMPLES ARE TOO SHORT
If the temples of your glasses are too short, the curve of the temple (which is intended to sit comfortably over the ear) will be in the wrong position. Wearing spectacles with short temples will cause friction and soreness just above the ear, and this pain will only worsen over time. Additionally, the fit is not secure, so your glasses can easily fall from your face.
Solution: An optometrist or optician may be able to adjust the position of the curve in the temples so that they gently bend over the ears at the correct angle, at the correct place. If not, choose frames with longer temples, ensuring they sit over the ears comfortably, and gently hug your head behind each ear.
THE NOSE PADS PINCH
Nose pads are supposed to provide stability and comfort, so if they leave painful, red indentations on your nose bridge, something is amiss. Correctly adjusted nose pads sit perfectly flush with your nose and distribute the weight of your glasses evenly across both pads.
Solution: An optometrist or optician can adjust the nose pads to ensure they sit comfortably on your nose bridge without pinching. You can also switch to nose pads in a softer material, such as silicone, or a different-sized nose pad.
YOUR GLASSES SLIDE DOWN YOUR NOSE
When it comes to wearing glasses, there is nothing more annoying than having to constantly push them up your nose. If any slight head movement causes spectacle slippage, it’s more than just an inconvenience, it can also compromise your vision. This issue is often exacerbated if you wear acetate frames or have oily skin.
Solution: The root cause of slippage can be attributed to one or a combination of factors. For this reason, it is best to ask a professional to assess the fit and identify what needs to be adjusted - whether it is the nose pads, temples, or loose screws. Your glasses could simply be too big for you, in which case, opt for a smaller frame.
THE FRAME SITS ON YOUR CHEEKS
When the bottom of your frames rests on your cheeks, your glasses will move when you talk, smile, or laugh. Uncomfortable? Yes. Irritating? Very! In the worst-case scenario, the frames will leave indentations and cause pain over time.
Solution: An optometrist or optician may be able to adjust your frames to raise them away from your face. If you wear acetate glasses, you may want to consider frames with adjustable metal nose pads or extended acetate nose pads (often called Asian fit or alternative fit glasses).
YOUR EYELASHES HIT THE LENSES
Even with average-length eyelashes, when spectacles sit too close to your face, your lashes will brush up against the lenses every time you blink. It is commonly thought that you cannot wear glasses if you have long lashes, but with the right fit, even the longest eyelashes can be accommodated.
Solution: Much like frames sitting on your cheeks, preventing eyelashes from coming into contact with the lenses requires the glasses to be lifted away from the face. This may be a simple case of adjusting existing nose pads or exploring acetate frames with extended acetate nose pads or adjustable metal nose pads.
CONCLUSION
Glasses should be image-enhancing, in every sense of the word. The right pair will frame your face perfectly and be a joy to wear. If your spectacles cause you daily frustration and discomfort, a few simple adjustments are often all that is needed to transform their look and feel. For those who need to buy new frames, remember that size and fit are just as important as style.
You can discover more with our comprehensive size guide and previous journal post about all things fit.