Choosing the best frame for faces isn’t all about the looks; it starts and ends with the comfort, practicality, and efficiency of vision aids. Regardless of whether you’re getting your glasses prescribed or opting for frames without a prescription, the measurements discussed here will ensure you’ve got the right fit. Where an eye vision test checks that your lenses will heal your vision right, having your face measured assures you the frames are right for your face shape. Whether you are window shopping, searching for designer eyeglasses, looking for a more affordable style of eyeglass frames Santa Barbara boutiques offer, or looking for your ideal pair home on the computer, it’s good to know these measurements.
How to Measure Glasses for Face Shape at Home
You need only a ruler or any flexible tape measure, a mirror, and some time to take the main measurements required for choosing the right frames. These steps help you measure frame width, bridge width, lens width, temple length, face shape, and PD.
Frame Width
The frame width – It is the combined width of your glasses from one temple to the other. To explain this, simply stand in front of a mirror and put a ruler across the face at brow level. The aim here is to ensure you get frames that correspond to the width of your face but do not go beyond the temples or are too tight on the head. This measurement helps to avoid the feeling of such gadgets as glasses being too tight and uncomfortable.
It is noteworthy that the choice of frame width is critical in glasses for face shape. If the measurements are too large, such frames overly dominate small faces, while too small, the frames may be too tight. If your head width according to the temples is, for instance, 130mm, frames with total widths between 128-132mm should be effectively chosen.
Bridge Width
The bridge width simply describes the part of your glasses that sits across the bridge of your nose, where it connects the two lenses of the glasses. Your bridge size should be comfortable on your nose, as a poorly fitting bridge will likely cause glasses to slide off your face or pinch your nose. Take a selfie while facing forward, or else stand in front of a mirror and note where the beginning of the bridge of your nose is. Next, pick up the ruler and measure the width of your bridge.
- If your nose bridge dips just a tad below your pupils, you should choose frames with a 16-18mm bridge width.
- If it is positioned above, the bridge width should be 19-21mm.
It is also important to consider the thickness of the frame. Thick frames also require extra millimeters because the bridge area gets congested, and you want to have enough space for this bulk. Proper selection of bridge width eliminates such feelings of discomfort and also assists in getting a correct fit.
Lens Width
Another important parameter used while selecting glasses is the width of the lenses. It measures the distance between lenses parallel to each other and counts toward an overall frame width. Proper lens width means the glasses have the right balance, the correct positioning, adequate coverage, and facial complement.
For the lens width, first consider the total frame width, add the bridge width, and divide the total by two. For instance, if your total frame width measures 135mm and your bridge is 19mm, then each lens width should measure 58mm. Note that most lenses vary from 50mm to 60mm. Big frames give much more coverage on the face and can be less comfortable for people with small faces.
The appropriate lens width is vital for achieving your desired style and function. Santa Barbara boutiques and online stores offer eyeglass frames with diverse lens widths, catering to different fashion preferences and needs.
Temple Length
The brim or temple of your glasses can be detached from the frame, curved up, and rested back on your ears to firmly hold on to the glasses. Correct temple length measurement helps keep your glasses comfortable all day without weighing you down or putting too much pressure on the sides. To measure, place a tape from the front hinge of your eyeglasses, behind the ear, and up to the point where the arm stopped. It can normally be found between 120mmb and 155mm, with sizes 135, 140, and 145mm being the most frequent measures.
Longer temples are preferred for a broader face, and shorter temples for a narrow face. Choosing the type of temple can also be asymmetrical. Thus, if your glasses’ temples are longer than your ears, replace them with shorter ones, and if the glasses rest too tightly on your ears, find longer temples. Appropriate temple length improves comfort for glasses wearers, especially for long wearers and people with different face shapes.
Face Shape
Face shape is important when selecting glasses. Knowing that you have a round, oval, square heart, or diamond-shaped face enables you to settle for the right type of frame that compliments you.
- Round Faces: Blessed with full cheekbones and soft jaws, round faces should opt for angular frames that strengthen the face. Light-colored frames with a rather boxy or rectangular shape seem best.
- Square Faces: With angular features, square faces are ideally suited to round or oval frames as they bring out the roundness of the faces.
- Oval Faces: Round faces are as proportional as oval; it is useful to select frames of any geometry, from severe to gentle.
- Heart-Shaped Faces: Heart-shaped faces have wide foreheads and narrow chins; thus, they should avoid frames that make the forehead wide; instead, they should settle for either a cat or bottom-heavy frame.
Identifying your face shape and matching it to the ideal frame type ensures that the eyeglass frames chosen by shoppers in Santa Barbara complement their facial structure.
Your Pupillary Distance (PD)
Pupillary distance or PD is the distance between two centers of the pupils of your eyes. This distance is important in positioning your prescription lenses in the frames as regards your ability to focus and see clearly. Although you can get this from your eye doctor during an eye vision test, you can also gauge it using equipment from the comfort of your home. Take a ruler and stand in front of a mirror, and with the ruler touching your forehead, point it at the center of one of your pupils and then over to the center of the other pupil.
Due to its features, PD is the most relevant when it comes to purchasing progressive lenses or glasses with high prescriptions through the Internet. Improper kt/PD values may result in low vision and eye fatigue, so one has to ensure they get the correct measurements.
Should You Measure Eyeglasses Yourself or Visit Your Eye Doctor?
Buying measuring glasses at home is easier and also helps you decide when to use them. However, if you need special prescriptions, bifocals, or trifocals or need clarification on your calculations, you should turn to an ophthalmologist. Eye vision tests and personal fitting guarantee increased accuracy and complete comfort.
People who visit an eye doctor know for sure that frames and lenses were chosen specifically for them, which is great, especially when traveling and exposing yourself to the number of eyeglass frames in Santa Barbara that are out there.
Conclusion
Several factors are always considered when choosing the right glasses for face shape, including frame width, bridge width, lens width, temple length, and many others. A self-measurer makes you independent in choosing glasses that not only look good but also fit you and even correct your vision.
One can measure independently to get accurate results. However, it is advised to consult a professional, especially if there are problems inserting or prescribing the devices. Of course, the perfect combination of style, comfort, and the best readability is the dream, and with the idea and some basic knowledge, you’ll be armed to find your next glasses.
