As your vision and comfort levels change with age, so do the needs you have in a pair of glasses. Read on to see how you can avoid common problems and choose the best frames and lenses for your needs.
Glasses may be a necessity, but they don’t have to be a pain. By choosing the style that’s right for you now, your glasses can be more attractive, comfortable, and serve your visual needs better.
The three important things to consider when choosing a pair of glasses are the frame, the lens style, and the lens material. It sounds simple enough, but a little savvy can go a long way.
The Frame and Fit
The frame chosen should be the right size, comfortable to wear and complimentary to your personal sense of style. If a current pair of glasses is unsatisfactory, making a list of dislikes or problems can make choosing a new one easier.
Frames that are heavy and slide down the nose are often frames that are too large. The lens area should be large enough to see comfortably, but should not rest on the cheeks or cover the eyebrows. A large lens area is not necessary to accommodate a bifocal, though it was in the past. Today’s bifocal lenses fit into much smaller frame styles.
If you prefer an oversize lens, be sure that the whole of the lens is visually usable. Lenses that rest on the eyebrows cannot be seen though, and the portion of the lens below the hollow of the eye also cannot be used. A bifocal segment placed this low cannot be seen through and is essentially useless.
Plastic frames are a popular choice because they do not have separate nose pads, which can dig into delicate skin on the bridge of the nose or in the eye area. This may seem a benefit at first, but plastic frames are less adjustable overall, and do tend to slide down the nose more often.
Properly adjusted nose pads on a metal frame will not dig, and are available in soft silicone materials that grip, rather than the older, slicker vinyl styles that slide. Nose pads may leave red marks on fair, delicate skin, but as long as the area is not irritated or painful, this is not a problem.
Frames with spring-loaded hinges stay in shape better and can comfortably grip the temple area without pinching. They are also more durable and suffer fewer loose screws, which can lead to lost lenses.
Spring-loaded hinges are also best for those who wear hearing aids, as they distribute the tension the device places on the temple-end throughout the entire frame. This can result in a more comfortable fit with less pinching behind the ear, near the mastoid bone, or squeezing on the head itself.
As to color, skin often wants brightening, but the frame is often most flattering when the color is muted. Pale golds, peaches and roses warm up pale skin and won’t overwhelm lighter hair and complexions. Save the brighter, brassier tones of red, purple and blue for small accents on the frame.
If the skin tone is deeper, muted shades of darker colors often look best. Shiny frames will draw attention to the glasses and away from the wearer’s face. A frame with small details like rhinestones or metal accents at the top corners of the frame will lift the eye upward, drawing attention to the desired areas.
Men, also, should pay attention to color choice. A shiny, bold frame will detract from the facial features, where darker browns and grays will blend in and make the frame less noticeable.