Dr. Brasfield | Do Glasses Make You Look Older? (2024)

Did you know that a recent study found glasses can actually make you look about 3 to 5 years older?

Many people wear glasses proudly, plus they need to be able to see! Others try to hide their glasses and bring them out only when it is absolutely necessary. This is due to the fact that wearing glasses can drastically change your look. Many people fear that glasses make them look older while others think that glasses make your look smarter or younger and sophisticated.

So, does wearing glasses really make you look older?

A new study by the London Vision Clinic reports that wearing glasses can make you look three years older than your current age on average. It further reports that people over the age of 45 years old can look 5 years older than their true age!

This research was conducted by dividing participants into two groups. One group was given ten pictures of people with glasses and asked to guess their ages and discuss personal attributes. The second group was given ten pictures of the same people without glasses and asked the same questions. The results concluded that their was a large difference in perceived ages and personality attributes.

We all remember the original Superman movies right? We remember Clark Kent as a sort of nerdy office geek who wore glasses and was a bit shy and lacking confidence. But when his glasses came off, he became Superman! Without his glasses on, he became a super hero who possessed the powers of flight, superhuman strength, x-ray vision, heat vision, super speed, enhanced hearing and immensely strong!

It is no surprise that in the same recent study conducted by the London Vision Clinic, they found that those who wore glasses appeared to be less likely to be seen as confident and were more likely to be thought of as physically weaker!

Dr. Brasfield | Do Glasses Make You Look Older? (1)

Does this remind you of when you got your first pair of glasses? Do you remember being worried about what others would think about your new look? I remember trying to decide if glasses or contacts would be a better option. Contact lenses would allow me to hide my glasses from everyone!

Now I have my higher end pairs of glasses and I know that I’m not alone when I say that I really enjoy wearing my Gucci or Dulce & Gabana glasses! They make me feel and look sophisticated and completely cool. I wear them out from time to time but I never really considered the fact that they might make me look older!

So do glasses really make you age faster and look older? What do you think? Remembering Mr. Clark Kent and society’s popular perception of people who wear glasses! Do you find that those around you think you look older when wearing your glasses? Do any of you wear contacts or completely avoid wearing your glasses for fear of looking older? Or do you wear faux glasses in order to look and feel more sophisticated?

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Dr. Brasfield | Do Glasses Make You Look Older? (2)Dr. Brasfield | Do Glasses Make You Look Older? (3)

Dr. Brasfield |   Do Glasses Make You Look Older? (2024)

FAQs

Dr. Brasfield | Do Glasses Make You Look Older? ›

A new study by the London Vision Clinic reports that wearing glasses can make you look three years older than your current age on average. It further reports that people over the age of 45 years old can look 5 years older than their true age!

What style of glasses make you look older? ›

Many older people tend to reach for over-the-counter reading glasses, or "granny glasses." These are the glasses you sometimes see on the end of people's noses while they are gazing over the tops of them. These types of glasses make you look older.

What attractive glasses make you look younger? ›

Generally, warm-colored frames can make you appear younger. Warm tones suit most faces, especially browns, burgundies, berry tones, and jewel tones. Of course, you should choose a color that suits your skin tone. It can also be helpful to choose shinier materials to give your eyes an extra sparkle.

What glasses make your face look slimmer? ›

Face Shape

Round Face: Eyeglass frames that are square or rectangular tend to be wider than a round face. This quality can enhance your face by making it appear slimmer and longer, adding balance to your round features.

Do glasses make people look sophisticated? ›

New study finds that glasses not only make you look smarter, they could even help you win an election. Harry S. Truman, the 33rd president of the United States, was also the last president to wear glasses in public. Want to seem more intelligent, competent and industrious?

Why do my glasses make me look older? ›

So depending on your choice of glasses, they can make you look either older or younger. Details such as colour, pattern, size, shape and style all have a part to play in your perception. And because spectacles cover a large area of your face and eyes, they have a large influence in your character.

How do I make my glasses look classy? ›

Five Ways to Look Good in Glasses
  1. Consider your face shape. Select a frame that complements the shape of your face. ...
  2. Choose the right color. ...
  3. Pick the right size. ...
  4. Stay on trend. ...
  5. Always make adjustments.

Do frameless glasses make you look older? ›

Rimless Lenses

Glasses without an acetate or metal rim incline to make you appear older than look young. An apparent lack of color in an aging complexion can make you seem older.

Should glasses cover your eyebrows? ›

As a rule, at least the top half of your eyebrows should be visible. Your glasses shouldn't cover them completely, nor should they show them so much that your eyebrows look like they're floating on top of your frame.

Do you look younger with or without glasses? ›

Contrary to the generally accepted beliefs that wearing eyeglasses makes you look older and wearing sunglasses make you look younger, our results suggest that the effect of glasses on age perception is rather small.

What shape glasses look best on fat? ›

Rectangular and Square Frames

Like rectangular frames, square glasses add balance and angles to soft features. They also help your face appear longer and thinner.

How can I look prettier with glasses? ›

Avoid round frames or small frames. Choose cat-eye or wide frames for a base-down or base-up triangle face. Highlight the narrow upper third area of a base-down face with frames that have color and detailing on the top of the frames. You can also try cat-eye-shaped frames.

What shape glasses make your face look longer? ›

Look for frames which are tall and square in their lens shapes. The taller the frame, the shorter your face will look. Slim rectangular frames have the opposite affect and make your face look longer.

Why do most smart people wear glasses? ›

Their analysis found “significant genetic overlap between general cognitive function, reaction time, and many health variables including eyesight, hypertension, and longevity”. Specifically, people who were more intelligent were almost 30% more likely to have genes which might indicate they'd need to wear glasses.

What glasses make you look professional? ›

Eyeglasses for serious business

Consider these choices to enhance your professional image: Classic shapes such as ovals, rectangles and almonds. Traditional colors of gold, silver, brown, gray and black. In plastic frames, no bright colors or unusual shapes.

What do glasses say about a person? ›

Honesty: Glasses can make you look more honest. Trustworthiness: You may look more trustworthy if you're wearing glasses with rims. Intelligence: People with glasses look like they read more; hence, they are more intelligent. Social class: Higher social class is associated with wearing glasses.

Do glasses make you look more or less attractive? ›

Participants evaluated others on a scale of one to 10.

A March study published in the journal Cureus found that wearing glasses could actually make you appear less attractive, as well as less confident.

What glasses are best for jowls? ›

Look for slightly oval or curved frames as they soften the jawline. Round frames and cat's eye styles are especially flattering. You can't go wrong with round and oval style frames that will add length.

Why can I suddenly see better without my glasses? ›

Why is that? Answer: Some call this "second sight" which has a simple physiological explanation. As the lens of the eye hardens as we age (the predecessor of frank cataracts) it changes the way light is "bent" as it enters the eye much the way different prescriptions in a pair of glasses do.

How to be photogenic with glasses? ›

If you're looking to be a bit extra, throw in some duck lips, a funny face, or a hand to the mouth for a candid look that will draw attention to your frames. Push Up Those Frames! When taking pictures with your frames, make sure you have them pushed all the way up the bridge of your nose.

What makes glasses so attractive? ›

Wearing glasses often evokes a subtle intrigue in a relationship. While glasses help in framing the face and drawing attention to the facial features, in most women, these iconic frames hide the minor glitches in the appearance. Men consider women wearing glasses as intellectual and intelligent.

How do you style your hair with glasses? ›

Generally speaking, dark hair goes well with metal and dark frames, whereas blonder hair goes with light or transparent frames. Choose frames that complement your hair color. Red tones go with any color frames except yellow and white. Short hairstyles for men and women are sleek and show off glasses the best.

What color glasses are most flattering? ›

For a subdued and understated look, choose frames in a colour that match with the neutral tones in your eyes, such as brown, beige, or black. If you want to channel a fun, statement-making look, choose a colour that's contrasting but complementary to your eye colour.

Who should wear frameless glasses? ›

Rimless glasses are ideal for adults who dislike or cannot use contact lenses but don't want a noticeable pair of glasses. Some spectacle wearers feel they look best in rimless styles because these glasses obstruct few (if any) of their features. When you wear rimless glasses, you still look just like yourself.

Who looks good in rimless glasses? ›

Ideal for All Face Shape

Only a round frame contracts and balances the diamond face; however, with rimless glasses, you don't have to worry about this. Regardless of your face shape (diamond, pear, oval, etc.), rimless glasses have no frame and will accentuate your face effectively.

How do you tell if glasses are too big for your face? ›

Glasses that are too big will feel like they're slipping off of your face and ears. They'll often be too wide for your face, with the lenses extending too far past the sides. If your eyes look a bit too close together (or close to the glasses bridge), that's another signal that your glasses might be too big.

Should glasses hug your face? ›

The right pair of glasses should rest comfortably on the bridge of your nose, and should not press against your forehead or cheeks. But they shouldn't rest so far towards the end of your nose that they slip when you squint or wrinkle your nose.

Does eye makeup look good with glasses? ›

Just play around with eyeshadow as you normally would and don't let the glasses stop you from flaunting your creativity. A lot of people think that eye makeup for spectacle wearers must be kept simple, but bold and striking eye makeup can do wonders for your look.

What age do your looks decline? ›

For Caucasian women, it's typically around the late 30s. "This is when fine lines on the forehead and around the eyes, less-elastic skin, and brown spots and broken capillaries from accumulated sun damage crop up," says Yagoda. If you're a woman of color, the tipping point is more likely in your 40s.

Are you age slower if you look younger? ›

According to a new study, when you look significantly younger than your chronological age, it's not just an optical illusion, your skin is actually aging a slower rate than normal.

Why do I look bigger with my glasses on? ›

“Plus” lenses are for farsightedness, and the more farsighted one is, the stronger the lens. Strong “plus” lenses cause the eyes to appear magnified. Also images seen through the lenses will appear larger than they really are.

What style of glasses make your eyes look bigger? ›

Smaller, thinner frames are a great choice if you wish to enlarge your eyes, while large, thick frames will make your eyes appear smaller.

Who do big glasses look good on? ›

Oversize eyeglass frames look great on anyone, no matter your face shape. Oversize glasses also provide more protection from the sun if they are appropriately tinted. When selecting oversize eyeglass frames, it's important to remember the three measurements for frames: lens width, bridge width, and arm length.

What shape glasses make you look smart? ›

Since then, research has found even the kind of glasses matters: Thick, blocky frames make you look smarter than thin ones.

How do you wear long eyelashes with glasses? ›

If you need to wear your glasses whilst applying the glue to your lashes, perch the specs on the end of your nose. Spec perching this way means you can easily look down through them when applying your adhesive, keeping the glasses out of your way when applying the lashes.

Do small glasses make your face look bigger? ›

Don't go with any circular frames or frames that are small, as these can make your face look rounder. You should also stay away from frameless glasses. Faces with an oval shape work with the most number of frames and are considered an ideal shape.

Should glasses be wider than your face? ›

The width of your frames should not be wider than the width of your face at the temples. The top of your frames should be no higher than the line of your eyebrows. The lower edge of the frames shouldn't sit on your cheeks otherwise they will start to rub against your skin and cause irritation.

What race wears glasses the most? ›

Myopia (near-sightedness) is more prevalent in ethnic East Asians, over 2/3 by age 15. So they need glasses to fix that. Why is it more prevalent? Given that rates of myopia are much higher than they used to be in East Asian countries, it's probably more lifestyle than genetics.

Why do US presidents not wear glasses? ›

The federal Presidential Anti-Glasses Act of 2004 specifically prohibits presidents from wearing glasses. The bill was passed in a bi-partisan vote over the strenuous objections of the American Optometric Association and signed into law by President Bush (without using reading glasses) in 2004.

Is astigmatism related to intelligence? ›

Out of 19 individuals with Oblique astigmatism more number of individuals had average IQ status. With 0.00 to 1.50 DC of left eye, greater numbers of individuals i.e., 51 were with average IQ status.

What is the trend in glasses in 2023? ›

Geometric frames, clear frames, large glasses, and thin-metal frames are emerging eyewear trends in 2023. Classic tortoise-shell frames and vintage aviator and cat-eye shapes have withstood the test of time and continue to be popular modern styles in the coming year.

What color glasses go with everything? ›

The best rule of thumb is matching your glasses to your outfit to avoid clashing colors; fortunately, the most common frame colors for glasses are black, white, grey, and silver, which go with just about everything, so you may not need to think too deeply about matching your glasses to most outfits.

What glasses hide bags under eyes? ›

Oversized frames

Big frames grab everyone's attention and draw it straight to your eyes. They can also help hide signs of aging, like wrinkles or bags under the eyes. Oversized frames come in all types of shapes and can be a good choice for any face shape.

How many pairs of glasses should you own? ›

Eye doctors always recommend that patients have more than one pair of prescription eyeglasses. Not only is this for fashion purposes, but it also helps protect your vision and eyes in case your primary pair of spectacles is damaged or breaks.

Does wearing someone's glasses show what they see? ›

Someone else's glasses correct their vision to be perfect. So if you are wearing their prescribed glasses — and you have perfect vision — you actually see the “focusing opposite” of what they see. Light is bent into your eyes in a way that would make you see correctly, if your eyes were the way that their eyes are.

Who wears circle glasses? ›

The simple round or circle glasses, sometimes known as tea shades, have long been regarded a fashion standard among pop superstars such as John Lennon, Elton John, Ozzy Osbourne, and Andy Warhol, as well as more current celebrities such as Kendall Jenner.

Do wire eyeglasses make you look older? ›

Color Your Face

Thin wire rimless glasses tend to make you look old. Instead, invest in colorful plastic frames. Many women choose black or brown, believing it to be a “safe” option to accessorize with everything.

What type of glasses make you look more attractive? ›

Key takeaways. Women found rectangle and square glasses to be the most attractive, while men found rectangle and cat-eye the most attractive.

Are bigger glasses more flattering? ›

Large frames have a way of making eyes look larger and more expressive. This look has been used by celebrities and others who want to either hide their identities or increase their cool factor.

Why do big glasses look better? ›

Eye-Framing Effect

Oversized frames have a way of centering the eyes, making your features appear more symmetrical and your irises pop. This not only draws the attention of those around you but also adds a bit of intrigue to your look.

Why do people wear glasses that make their eyes look big? ›

“Plus” lenses are for farsightedness, and the more farsighted one is, the stronger the lens. Strong “plus” lenses cause the eyes to appear magnified. Also images seen through the lenses will appear larger than they really are.

How do you know if glasses are to big for your face? ›

Glasses that are too big will feel like they're slipping off of your face and ears. They'll often be too wide for your face, with the lenses extending too far past the sides. If your eyes look a bit too close together (or close to the glasses bridge), that's another signal that your glasses might be too big.

Do big glasses make your face look smaller? ›

Frames that place the lenses further apart help to diminish the other facial features, especially the nose. The larger the appearance of the glasses, the smaller the other areas of the face will appear. This is valid for prescription safety glasses, prescription sunglasses, and eyewear.

Do I look hotter with glasses? ›

Glasses usually enhance the features of your face and make you look hotter than you are. But getting the right frames to match your face shape, skin tone, and lifestyle is what will give you that alluring look.

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