When trying on new glasses, do you struggle to know which glasses may work best for you? We have some tips which may help and once you know which shape your face most closely resembles, then you can start narrowing down glasses to make your decisions easier.

Glasses Based on Your Face Shape 

To choose the right eyeglasses for you, start by determining your face shape. There are seven basic face shapes, including oval, base-up or base-down triangle, oblong, square, diamond, and round, as seen in the photo above. Eyeglasses should contrast your facial features but be in scale with your face size. The end piece should best fit at the widest point of your face at the temples. The proper fit of the frame and lens height is more important than the lens size. Find your face shape in this image above and try out our recommended frames for more accurate measurement:

Oval: 

• Frames that suit an oval face have a strong bridge size, are wider than the broadest part of the face, and are geometric in shape. 
• Frames to Avoid: Eyeglasses that are overly large and cover up more than half of your face will throw off the natural balance and symmetry of the oval face.

Heart-shaped, Base-up triangle: 

• Frames that balance the width of the forehead with the narrowness of the chin are ideal. Eyeglasses with low-set temples and bottom heavy frame lines will add width to that narrower part of your face. Round eyeglasses or square eyeglasses with curved edges will help draw attention away from a broad, high forehead. 
• Frames to Avoid: Steer clear of any style or color of frames that draw attention to the forehead. This includes frames with decorative temples or embellished tops.

Oblong: 

• Frames with more depth than width. 
• Frames to Avoid: Narrow and rectangular shapes will make your face appear longer, so steer clear.

Square: 

• Eyeglasses that soften the angularity and sit high on the bridge of the nose look best on square faces. Oval or round eyeglasses will balance and add a thinner appearance to the angles of a square face. 
• Frames to Avoid: Angular and boxy eyeglass frames will sharpen and draw attention to your angular features, making a square face appear bulky.

Diamond: 

• Play up a narrow forehead and chin with eyeglass frames that sweep up or are wider than the cheekbones, such as cat eye glasses and oval frames. These frames will accentuate your cheekbones and delicate features. 
• Frames to Avoid: Boxy and narrow frames will accentuate the width of your cheeks, drawing attention to your narrow features rather than enhancing them.

Round: 

• 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. 
• Frames to Avoid: Rimless frames, round frames, and small frames will accentuate the roundness, making your round face look even rounder.

Base-Down Triangle: 

• This face shape can easily be identified by the cheek and chin areas being wide and the forehead being narrow. Like the diamond face shape, with a base-down triangle, you want to try to bring attention back towards the upper part of your face to balance out your features. Try cat-eye-shaped frames or semi-rimless frames. Also, frames that are heavily decorated and detailed on the top half would complement this face shape. 
• Frames to Avoid: Frames that have a lighter upper rim, or darker lower rim because these attributes accentuate the wider lower portion of the face and will bring attention to the widest lower jawline

Other Considerations When Picking Your Eye Glasses

Highlight Your Features

Pick your best or favorite feature and pick a frame to highlight it. Some features to consider highlighting would be your eyes, hair, skin color, and face shape. For example, if you have blue eyes, try different styles of blue or blue-gray frames to match and highlight your eye color.

Match or Complement Colors

Your skin, eyes, and hair work together to create your overall coloring. Everyone has either a cool (blue or pink undertones) or a warm (yellow or orange undertones) overall color. Try a frame from our color list below to complement your coloring.

• Warm coloring: Stay away from contrasting colors such as pastels. White and black frames may tend not to be flattering either. Instead, the perfect frames for you are light tortoise, brown shades, gold or honey, copper, red, beige, warm blue, and olive green.
• Cool coloring: Avoid colors that wash you out and instead reach for frames that are silver, black, dark tortoise, pink, purple, blue, rose-brown, mauve, and gray.

Find the Perfect Size

Try on multiple pairs to see what frame measurements fit your face shape best. Look into your facial measurements such as temple length, bridge width, pupillary distance, or nose bridge height.

Try to avoid ill-fitting glasses. If the frame size is too small your peripheral vision will be limited and could potentially feel tight on the head. The right glasses should not pinch your nose, leave red marks, slide down your nose, or easily slip off your head. The tightness around your ears can be adjusted to get the perfect fit. 

Fit Your Frames to Your Lifestyle

Make sure your glasses frames will work for every part of your life and will be a representation of you and your personality. Try different facial expressions while trying on glasses to see which frame is right for you.

Pick the correct measurements to match your unique lifestyle and hobbies and find the right fit. Consider your common activities when choosing frames. For example, if you are more active you may want a pair of sports eyewear or a wraparound band. If you spend a lot of time on the computer, you may want eyeglasses with a tinted lens.

Lifestyle Lens Specialty Coatings – ZEISS DuraVision Blue Protect and ZEISS DuraVision DriveSafe 

Blue Protect blocks harmful computer, smartphone, tablet, etc rays from harming your eyes, relieves eye strain, and helps in vision clarity.

DriveSafe Lens provides a more clear vision in low-light conditions for safer and more comfortable driving, reduces glare at night from oncoming cars or street lights, and provides up to 43% larger mid-distance zone for easier focus switching between dashboard and mirrors.

Are Weight and Material Important to You?

Frames are most commonly made of plastic, metal, or a combination of materials. This combination determines the longevity, weight, and average cost of a frame.

Key Features:

• Stainless steel and titanium are long-lasting
• Metal frames often have adjustable nose pads
• Metal frames can come in hypoallergenic materials
• Plastic frames tend to be lighter
• Plastic frames typically need less maintenance than metal frames
• Flexible hinges allow the temple arms to bend more than regular hinges

Pick Your Next Frames at Visionary Eye Doctors

Our opticians can help you in selecting the perfect pair and with our WOW grantee – it’s great to shop local and small! Our experienced optometry professionals work closely with you to select the proper frames to fit your budget as well as your cosmetic, lifestyle, and vision needs.