If you’ve been wearing glasses for a while, you know how difficult buying the perfect pair is. It isn’t just about the looks. It is about the fit, the right shape and lots more. Here is a guide on buying the right pair.
1. Choose the size of the frame wisely:
The
rule of thumb is that the frame should not be too small or too large
for the face. In the case of small frames, your field of vision will
extend beyond the lenses which can lead to your prescription power
increasing.
A frame that is too big can be heavy and
uncomfortable. Another downside of such frames is that they tend to make
your eyes look smaller than normal. To test if you have the right type
of frames, you should not be able to see out of the top, bottom or the
sides of the frames without straining to look through those areas. Your
lenses should cover about 80 to 90% of your field of vision.
2. Consider the distance between your eyes and the thickness of the bridge of your nose:
This
is an important aspect because apart from making the glasses look
aesthetically pleasing, it also helps the you see better. Although the
width of the bridge in frames is standardized, your optometrist will
measure the distance between your eyes and the thickness of the bridge
of your nose to give you a better fit. The right distance between the
lenses helps reduce strain on the eyes, stops the glasses from slipping
down the nose while working, does not apply too much pressure on the
inner portion of the eye and prevents the bridge of the frames from
resting directly on your forehead. All these factors are important since
glasses that don’t fit properly can lead to several issues like marks
on the skin around the eyes and nose, headaches and trouble in the
production of tears in the eyes.
3. The arms of the glasses should not be too tight or loose:
Tight
arms could lead to headaches or pain behind the ears (caused due to
excess pressure exerted by the arms of the frames) and marks along the
side of the face. Loose arms can lead to constant slipping off of the
glasses, and non-centered alignment of the lenses. Moreover the material
that the arms are made of also matter. Some people experience an
allergy to metal arms, while others might be allergic to plastic. In
some people this allergy might not manifest immediately, but with dirt
and sweat getting trapped between the skin and the arms, it can lead to
an allergic reaction.
4. Make sure your glasses are centre aligned properly:
A
very important aspect while choosing the right set of frames is the
center alignment, which helps you see accurately. Center alignment of
glasses means that the lense is right in front of your eyes. This helps
you see clearly, without straining your eyes. Since most eyeglass lenses
are ground concavely on the inner surface and convex on the outer
surface, it is always better to see out of the center of the lenses.
Distorted or frames that tilt towards one side can cause eye strain and
in some case cause an increase in the optometric defect.
5. Choose the right material for the lens:
There
are basically two types of materials – one made of glass, and the other
(unbreakable version) made of a type of plastic. The benefits of an
unbreakable lens is that it can be used without much fear of breaking.
Mainly used for children and those who use their glasses particularly
roughly, it is also lighter than the glass version. Glass lenses are a
more delicate version of the plastic lens. Earlier they were the only
type available, and were mostly used for bifocal lenses, but today with
the advent of advances in the manufacture of lenses, a plastic one can
be used to make bifocal lenses as well.
6. Bifocals or progressive lenses:
In
bifocals (a type of glass used for people suffering from a condition
called hypermetropia*) a portion of the glass has a semi circular
demarcation at the bottom of the lens –this helps people see near
objects clearly. If you do have such a condition, you can now opt for
progressive lenses, that function like bifocals but do not have the
unsightly semicircle at the bottom, and are easier to see though since
one does not need to readjust their vision every time they want to see
something close to them. While choosing the type of lens you would like
to use, make sure you choose one that you prefer and are comfortable
with.
7. Choose the right nose pads:
It
may seem inconsequential but nose pads play an important role in making
your glass wearing experience comfortable. They should ideally be made
of soft plastic and rest comfortably on the nose. They should not be too
tight or too loose. The pad arm and pad plate should be adjusted so
that they do not press down on the nose. Another factor is that certain
people may be allergic to particular materials used to make nose pads.
Now days there are nose pads that protect one against allergic
reactions. Nose pads also help align the glasses to the centre of the
face and keep the lenses away from your eyelashes. It is important that
your eyelashes do not touch the lenses, because this not only is
uncomfortable while you blink, it is also bad for your eyes and can lead
to excessive eye strain. An indication that either the nose pads are
too tight or that the glasses are too heavy is the formation of a mark
on either side of the bridge of the nose.
8. Choose size and style:
Make
sure you ask your optometrist to measure your frame size before you
order the glasses. They must be made or altered to your dimensions.
Measuring the frame size includes 4 main measurements –
eye, bridge, temple and vertical measurements.
9. The lighter the better:
This
is important because heavy frames tend to cause headaches or fatigue of
the eyes. They are also more likely to slip off the nose often. That
doesn’t mean that one has to stick to plastic frames all their life.
There are frames made of titanium which are much lighter and tougher
when compared to other types of frames.
10. Choose scratch-proof and anti-glare glasses:
Lenses
that are made of glass or plastic should be scratch-proof. Not only are
scratches unsightly, they also distort vision and lead to eye strain.
Anti-glare glasses help reduce the glare that comes off a computer
screen or other electronic devices like smartphones. Getting them is
wise because it reduces the strain that your eye go through from sitting
in front of the computer screens for long periods of time.
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20/20
Eyeglass Superstore carries over 4000 quality and designer frames.
Accordingly, our tagline is, “A Frame for Every Face and a Price for Any
Budget”. We pride ourselves on assisting Orlando residents find
everything they need when it comes to vision care. From prescription
lenses to progressives, we can assist you find exactly what you’re
looking for.
If you have any further questions regarding which type of
eyeglasses are right for you, please feel free to contact us anytime. We look forward to hearing from you.
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