One of the most common inquiries we receive is about glasses slipping.
Fit is one of the major concerns that people have when looking for vision correction. One of the most common fit issues we encounter is glasses slipping down customers’ noses.
This can be a very irritating issue to have to deal with because once your frames slide down a little bit, your vision straight ahead of you can be impaired. It can even be dangerous at times; you may not be able to adjust them right away, especially if you’re doing something like driving.
There are many “Life-Hacks” available on the web like putting hair elastics around the ends of the arms, getting ear hooks or using glasses wax, but it’s more about the fit of the frames. The two main aspects of your frame that you should be concerned about are the bridge width and the temple arm length.
Bridge Width: This is the space between both lenses that rests on your nose. Some frames come with adjustable nose pads that make fitting them much easier, but for other styles you’ll have to ensure you have the correct size.
The slippage we talked about above occurs when the bridge is too large. When the bridge on your glasses is too small, you’ll feel them pinching your nose, they may sit too high and you may have red marks on your nose after wearing them.
To find the proper size, you’ll want something that fits comfortably and doesn’t move on your nose when you are moving your head.
The easiest place to start looking at your bridge measurement is on the inside arm of your frames. There will be three numbers in this format “55-18-140”. The middle number is the bridge width of your frames and it can range anywhere from 14-24 and is measured in millimetres. This is a good place to start when finding your frame size, but as you switch between frames this number won’t always remain the same.
Different frame styles have different shapes and fits and each one will affect the bridge width. Come into your local Hakim Optical and we can help advise you on how to fit your frames.
Temple Arm Length: While bridge width is the most important factor when reducing slippage, temple arm length can affect fit as well.
If the temple arm length is too short, the glasses can be pulled higher onto your nose and put pressure on the backs of your ears, which often causes headaches. If the temple arm length is too long, the glasses will often fall forward because there is no support from the frames being hooked onto the backs of your ears.
Once again, the length is identifiable by the digits on the inside of your frames, this time it is the last number of the three. The typical adult ranges are between 135 and 150, and the fit of each length will also depend on the shape and style of the frames.
If you’re able to find a frame that fits both of these specifications then you’ll be putting yourself in a position to remain comfortable in those glasses. We all have an urge to buy frames based on style rather than sizing, but we promise you, you’ll get sick of any frame very quickly if it’s uncomfortable – which it will be with your glasses slipping.
Explore some examples of the frames we may carry for an idea of what might fit your face.