It’s important for your confidence and sense of self to choose just the right pair of frames for your glasses. You want them to look right for your face and express your personality. Your lenses matter for comfort too: lighter lens materials can make glasses easier to wear all day. While finding the most stylish pair, don’t forget that comfort is an important consideration, too! Here are a few tips to help you in choosing the most comfortable glasses for you:
- Consider your nose. Most of us are very familiar with our noses, but we might forget that it plays an important role when it comes to eyewear. After all, it is the main support. The thickness of the bridge of your nose will determine how firmly different types of frames will fit as well as how far the lenses are from your eyes. Some frames have adjustable nose pads, and others do not. For the most comfort, make sure that the frames you like don’t pinch your nose or slide down. They may look great, but that won’t matter much if they are uncomfortable. The pad arms that hold the nose pads can be adjusted, so a frame that slides may only need an adjustment.
- Think about size. Pick a frame width that matches your face, so the frame does not squeeze at the sides or slide down your nose.
- Don’t forget your ears. Since they are the other support factor for your frames, make sure that the pressure your frames put on them isn’t going to be a problem over time. Temples that press too hard can rub your skin and leave sore spots. If that happens, bring your glasses in for an adjustment.
- A bad reaction. Some people get an itchy rash where a frame touches the skin, often from nickel in metal frames. Changing the frame material is often the fix. Always let your eye care professional know if you have had poor experiences with other types of glasses and their materials in the past so that he or she can advise you properly.
We are here for you when it’s time for you to choose new glasses. At Classic Vision Care, Dr. Mital Patel, OD, and our team can also adjust glasses that slip, pinch, or press. Call our Kennesaw office at (770) 499-2020 or our East Cobb office at (678) 560-8065.
How do you choose the most comfortable glasses?
The most comfortable glasses fit your face, feel light, and suit your skin. Here is how to choose comfort glasses you forget you are wearing.
Start with the bridge and nose pads. The bridge is the center of the frame. It rests on your nose and joins the two lens rims [1]. Nose pads are the small plastic pieces under the bridge, and they give a more comfortable and secure fit [1]. The pad arms that hold them can be adjusted to the shape of your face [1]. If a frame pinches your nose or slides down, it is not the most comfortable glasses for you.
Check the temples and the frame width. The temples are the long side arms that rest over your ears and hold the glasses snugly [1]. Pick a frame width that matches your face, so the frame does not squeeze at the sides or slide down your nose. Sore spots behind the ears or red marks on your nose mean the fit needs an adjustment.
Choose a light frame material. Titanium frames are very strong, lightweight, and resist corrosion [2]. Stainless steel is light and strong, though not as light as titanium [2]. Blended nylon is strong and lightweight and is popular for sports frames [2]. Plastic frames, including zyl (cellulose acetate), are usually lightweight, and zyl frames are easy for an optician to adjust [2]. Plastic frames do break more easily than metal [2].
Do not forget the lenses. Plastic lenses are lighter than glass [3]. High-index lenses are thin, lightweight plastic lenses for people with stronger prescriptions [3]. Polycarbonate lenses are highly impact resistant and are often recommended for sports, and Trivex lenses, another light, impact-resistant plastic, meet the same safety standards [3].
Watch for a skin reaction. An itchy rash behind the ears, or wherever the frame touches your skin, can be a reaction to the frame [4]. Nickel is one of the most common causes, and a frame that looks silver or gold may still contain it [4]. Titanium is described as hypoallergenic [2], but reactions to titanium and plastic frames have also been reported [4]. Changing the frame material is often the fix [4].
Comfortable glasses in Kennesaw and East Cobb. At Classic Vision Care, Dr. Mital Patel, OD, and our team help you choose comfortable glasses and adjust the fit at our offices in Kennesaw and East Cobb. Start with a comprehensive eye exam so your lenses match an up-to-date prescription. For style and face shape, read our guide on how to choose glasses frames. If your glasses slip, pinch, or press, book an appointment or bring them in for an adjustment.
Sources
- American Academy of Ophthalmology, "Learn the Nine Essential Parts of Eyeglasses" (published Nov. 29, 2017)
- American Academy of Ophthalmology, "How to Choose the Glasses Frame Material That's Right for You" (published Apr. 22, 2020)
- American Academy of Ophthalmology, "Eyeglasses: How to Choose Glasses for Vision Correction" (published Jun. 14, 2023)
- Situm M, et al., "Dermatological aspects of contact dermatitis from eyeglass frames and optical materials," Collegium Antropologicum (2013), peer reviewed, PMID 23837217
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