Eye of the Beholder

Your glasses should not touch your eyelashes, dear reader. They should sit comfortably at the tip top of your bridge. If you find your glasses are doing otherwise, ask your optician to make some adjustments, or you might need to find another frame.

Depending on fit, your glasses might touch your cheeks. Ideally, when you smile big, your glasses will hardly move. If your toothy grin has them a-wigglin’ and wobblin’, you might be better off with a better-fitting frame.

If a frame feels loose and falls off your nose, it probably fits this bill. Too-long temples or frames that extend far beyond the width of your face, giving you the appearance of peering out from beneath the wings of a jumbo jet, are also indicative of overly spacious glasses.

If it feels like the arms of your frames have your temples in a vice grip, or like the bridge is playing an eternal game of “got your nose,” it’s a safe bet that you’re dealing with a too-small pair. If these can not be fixed with a simple adjustment, you may be working with the wrong frame size and should re-evaluate the width of your noggin.

If you’re reading this to ascertain why the new pair of glasses you acquired are more Goodwill tuxedo than Cinderella’s slipper, fear not, dear reader. Keep in mind that every head is unique, and sometimes the right fit will still need minor adjustments. If you’re experiencing any kind of eye strain, you can always visit an eyebobs retail store for a free adjustment or bring your eyebobs to your eye doctor.

Lens width is the horizontal width of one lens at its widest point, and lens height is the vertical length of one lens at its tallest point. Here’s the lens lowdown: whether you’re wearing prescription glasses or readers, you’ll need to take both lens width and lens height into consideration. These key measurements are essential to ensuring both your new glasses frame your face flawlessly.

Proximity is paramount when it comes to those lenses. Your glasses should sit close enough to your eyeballs to give you an unobstructed, seamless field of vision. They shouldn’t actually be touching your eyeballs, though, but we imagine you already knew that. Allow us to tell you more – your eyes will thank you for getting jazzed over things like lens height and temple length, we promise.

The pupillary distance, or distance between your pupils (PD), should be equally distributed between the two lenses. An eye exam* can help you find this magic number and in turn, the lens size that will help you find the sweet spot that centers your eyes within your lenses. If your lenses are spaced too far apart, your eyes will appear too close together, while lenses that are too close together will give your peepers a wide-set look.

This is the measurement of the “arms” of the frame from each screw to the temple tip, and it’s also the key to making sure your glasses sit comfortably behind your ears.

Temple arms should fit evenly and horizontally along your face, with the curve of the temple fitting snugly and comfortable around your ear. If your glasses pinch your ears, that’s a sign that your arm length is the perpetrator of an improper fit. Your frames should fit properly from nose to ear.

Good question. Seek out a frame that is slightly wider than your face for the best-fitted frame. As a general rule of thumb, your frames should be no more than a finger’s width from your face. A frame width that’s too narrow will make your head look wider and apply too much pressure to your noggin, while a frame that is too wide will make your face look narrower and lead to your glasses slipping whenever you turn your head. Frames that fit properly will feel comfortable and turn the heads of others, which is undoubtedly the outcome we’d all prefer to see. Read on to find the frame measurements that will give you that barely-there sensation.

Wide frames start at 140mm and go up from there.

Average frame measurements fall between 131mm-139mm.

Narrow frames have widths up to 130mm.

Well-fitting eyewear isn’t all about the eyes. Bridge width refers to the distance between the lenses of your frame, i.e., the part of the frame that sits directly above your nose. A proper-fitting bridge size will sit not too high, not too low, but just right on the bridge of your nose. In other words, mind the gap!

If you’re unfamiliar, a keyhole in the eyeglasses world is like a regular bridge but fancy and is aptly named after its doppelganger: the keyhole. Oftentimes the keyhole bridge is thoughtfully designed not only as a decorative feature but also as a way to make sure your glasses won’t leave unsightly red marks on your face.

This is all thanks to the keyhole design moving the pressure from the bridge of your nose to the sides. If you know you have a difficult bridge to fit, keyhole glasses are likely a good solution for you. Next time you see a more intricate bridge, aka keyhole bridge, you’ll know the fashion is on, and the pressure’s off.

Like a horse’s saddle, a saddle bridge is designed to distribute the weight of the frames evenly over the top and sides of the nose. Yes, your nose is the horse in this scenario. And much like the horse, a saddle bridge is universally loved. Be mindful of any space between the top of your nose and the bottom of the bridge. If this is the case, the bridge is too small. If you find your saddle frequently sliding south, then the bridge is too wide.

A great option for those with low nose bridges or those who just like things to stay put, adjustable nose pads offer up a snug fit and make sure your glasses stay where they belong (upon your face towards the eyes, in case you were wondering). Patrons with multi-focal and high-prescription lenses tend to be especially fond of these magical little instruments for keeping your lenses in your line of sight.

If you and your new frames aren’t seeing eye-to-eye, we’re always happy to help. Our numero uno goal is to ensure your glasses fit like they were made to be your one and only. We offer free returns in the first 90 days and free adjustments to ensure you can become the best vision of yourself. If you have any questions, drop us a line at omfg@eyebobs.com, give a ring at 866-393-2627, or at the chat box on our website.

Yes! Just like having a bespoke suit tailored, it’s best to make these adjustments in person. While we’d be overjoyed to see your smashing self in our stores, we get that the long-distance thing isn’t for everyone. If your new eyeglass frames aren’t a secure fit, most qualified optometrists will tailor them gratis.