An ill-fitting pair of glasses can be irritating as well as uncomfortable. Ensuring your glasses sit correctly on your face is integral to improving your vision. If they’re not fitting as they should, you could end up experiencing headaches, eye strain and other avoidable problems. This is all to do with pupillary distance - the measurement in millimetres between the centres of each pupil. Ensuring that your lenses have these correct focal points is key in their effectiveness. But how do you know if your glasses aren’t fitting properly? Is there a specific place they should sit on your nose? We’ll be going through all you need to know about how your glasses should fit, and what to do if they’re not sitting as they should.
How Should Glasses Fit?
Correctly fitting glasses should sit on your nose bridge, and not press your cheeks, forehead, or brow. They should be level with the rest of your face (ie. not sitting crooked or at an angle.) You don’t want them to fit too far forward or too far back. Think of it as a neutral position. And importantly, they should feel comfortable to wear.
Checklist For How Glasses Should Fit
Shouldn’t pinch, dig in or leave red marks on your nose or cheeks.
Shouldn’t cause you to scrunch up your face or nose for them to stay in place.
Shouldn’t slip down your nose, or sit too high up.
Shouldn’t rub behind your ears
Shouldn’t be crooked.
Nose pads should be comfortable and help keep your glasses level.
You shouldn’t have to adjust your frames.
How Do Measurements Affect How Glasses Fit?
When you buy a pair of glasses, they are produced for you with these measurements in mind:
Eye size. This is the width of your lenses.
Bridge size. This takes into consideration the width of your nose.
Temple size. This is the width of your arms.
These measurements work together to determine how far a pair of glasses sits away from your face. They also determine where your glasses sit on your nose. The average distance is 14-24mm, but this will change from person to person. Looking at where your glasses sit on your nose is a useful way to gauge whether they’re fitting correctly.
How To Choose Glasses That Fit Comfortably
The best way to prevent glasses from being too tight or too loose is to opt for a pair that compliments your facial dimensions and measurements. For instance:
If you have a high nose bridge that sits above your pupils - go for frames that have a bridge that is close to, or in line with, your brow.
If you have a low nose bridge that sits at or below pupils - choose a pair of frames that have a curved bridge, or one that is below the brow.
If you have a wide nose width - we recommend glasses with a larger bridge.
If you have a narrow nose width - opt for glasses with a smaller bridge.
Measurements for nose bridge widths, or the distance from the inside rim across the frame, can be found in all of our frame descriptions. The higher the number, the wider the bridge width. If you’re after a new pair of designer glasses and need a little help, give our virtual try on a go! You’ll be able to see how different sized frames will look on your face, as well as determine if they’ll provide the type of fit you want.
What To Do If Your Glasses Don’t Fit Correctly
Before we go any further, a word of warning. We strongly recommend that you visit an optician or eyewear specialist for help if your glasses aren’t fitting correctly. Whilst it can be tempting to try and fix them at home, all can go wrong quite quickly without the specialist tools and know-how required.
There are a couple of areas a professional can adjust to improve fit. One of these is nose pads. These can be moved inward or outward to help keep your glasses in place. This is particularly useful if they keep sliding down your nose, or are pinching. The second is temples. These can be bent to sit closer or further from your head. The goal is a snug, comfortable fit that allows them to stay put when you move around.
As we mentioned, we recommend getting your glasses professionally looked at if they’re not fitting correctly. However, there are some steps you can take in the meantime to make them more comfortable.
If Your Glasses Are Too Loose
Apply a small amount of glasses wax to the nose bridge.
Temporarily use ear hooks on temples, or glasses grips at the end of arms.
Tighten up hinges on temples. You can use a tiny screwdriver for this, and put that one in a Christmas cracker to good use!
If Your Glasses Are Too Tight
Put baby powder behind temples to reduce rubbing behind the ears.
Loosen the hinges on the temples if too tight. Be careful that you don’t make them too loose and the arms come off.
FAQs
Finding the Right Glasses Fit
Where on the nose should glasses sit? ›
Correctly fitting glasses should sit on your nose bridge, and not press your cheeks, forehead, or brow. They should be level with the rest of your face (ie. not sitting crooked or at an angle.) You don't want them to fit too far forward or too far back.
Should my glasses dig into my nose? ›
A properly fitted pair of frames shouldn't dig in or leave marks on your nose.
What if glasses sit too high on your nose? ›
If the glasses feel too tight or sit too high on your face, you can use the same method to bend the nose pad outwards, tilting its top portion toward the lens (away from your nose). Try to adjust the left and right side evenly, then test the fit by trying on your glasses.
Are glasses supposed to slide down your nose? ›
If your glasses are sliding down your nose often, it could indicate a problem with how the frames fit your face—but that's not the only possible explanation. In this article, we'll go over why your glasses keep falling off and give tips on how to stop glasses from slipping.
How should glasses fit over nose? ›
The bridge of your glasses (or its nose pads) should rest easily on your nose, without any feeling of compression or tightness. It also shouldn't be slipping down your nose. The glasses should be balanced, as well—if you find yourself constantly having to tilt them one way or another, the fit isn't ideal.
Should glasses leave indent on side of nose? ›
Believe it or not, glasses are not supposed to create those markings on your skin at all. The purpose of those nose pads is to help your eyewear fit comfortably on your face without the need to push them up constantly. Your glasses also should not be so tight that they are leaving indents on the side of your head.
Is it normal for glasses to leave marks on your nose? ›
Over time, this pressure can cause marks on the nose, especially if the glasses are not adjusted correctly or if the nose pads are too tight. The red marks on the nose from glasses are due to the pressure that the nose pads exert on the skin. People with oily skin or who sweat a lot may be more prone to this problem.
Should there be a gap between nose and glasses? ›
Fitting Glasses on Your Nose
Whether you have a high- or low-bridge, plump, or bony nose, the optimal pair of eyeglasses should rest securely and comfortably on the top part of your nose. But not too high that they're higher than your eyebrows. Also, there should never be any space between your nose and the pads.
How do you keep glasses from resting on your nose? ›
NoseComfort Eyeglass Support is a lightweight appliance you wear like a small headband, it utilizes a patented hook-support design allowing you to wear your prescription eyeglasses, reading glasses, sunglasses, optical loupes or other optical wear while ensuring your glasses don't touch your nose.
There are many reasons why your glasses may keep sliding down your nose, including: Your frames are too big for your face – If your frames are too heavy or wide, they may not stay in place.
Should glasses cover your eyebrows? ›
Should Glasses Cover Your Eyebrows? Glasses should cover only about half of the width of your eyebrows. Avoid frames that completely hide your eyebrows or sit too low, exposing them over the top. However, if intentionally displaying or covering your eyebrows is your style, go for it!
How far up my nose should my glasses be? ›
The frames of your glasses should sit on the bridge of your nose without slipping or pinching. The arms of the glasses should fit securely around your ears without putting strain on them. If the arch of your glasses is too narrow, they will pinch your nose and sit too high on your nose.
Is it bad to wear your glasses Low on your nose? ›
If you wear your glasses further down on the nose, then the pads will be too tight and can cause skin irritation.
How to get glasses to stay on nose? ›
10 Easy Hacks to Keep Glasses From Slipping
- Reduce the oil on your skin. If your skin is naturally oily, try using a mild soap or facial cleaner regularly. ...
- Adjust the Screws. ...
- Add Silicone Nose Pads. ...
- Apply Eyeshadow Primer. ...
- Bend the Temple Tips. ...
- Choose a Different Material. ...
- Apply Anti-Slip Nerdwax. ...
- Use Hair Ties.
Acanthoma fissuratum is an uncommon condition that occurs in people who wear glasses; it presents as a papule, nodule or plaque with raised edges where the spectacle frame presses on the skin.
What is the part of the glasses that sits on your nose? ›
Bridge – The arched portion of the front frame that rests on your nose and bears most of the weight of the glasses.
How do I know if my nose bridge is low? ›
A low nose bridge is where the bridge of your nose sits level with or below the pupils. People with low nose bridges often have wide faces and/or high cheekbones. Low Bridge Fit frames minimize any pinching and prevent frames from sliding down your nose or resting on your cheeks.
