For those of us with limited vision, our most important fashion accessory is the frames we select for our eyeglasses. But no matter their appearance, it’s vital to make sure the frames you select will work with the lenses you’ve been prescribed. Once you’ve narrowed down the selection based on vision needs, you’ll need to consider fit, style, shape and color before walking away with glasses you’ll truly be pleased to wear.
Instructions
1 Review with your eye doctor any limitations or requirements that would affect your vision and that need to be taken into consideration when choosing frames. Sometimes the general requirements for the size and shape of the frame are determined by the prescription for the lenses.
2 Consider fit. The person who sells you the frames is usually trained to make sure your frames work with the doctor’s prescription–but that person may not always be an expert on fit. You should be seeing through the middle of the lens, the temples should be close to your head, and the tops of the frames should not be higher than your eyebrows.
3 Think about your general fashion style and your wardrobe. If you spend most of your time in a suit, a more conservative style of frame would be suitable. For casual dress, you’ll have more options. If your clothes tend to fall into the brown/tan/beige category, for example, you may want to coordinate with those colors. If you have a varied and brightly colored wardrobe, you might want to consider wire frames as a go-with-everything option. If you wear earrings, you’ll probably want to choose the color (silver or gold) that matches your predominant earring color.
4 Take your body size into consideration. A large person can look handsome in oversize glasses; whereas a petite individual will be dwarfed by them. Conversely, tiny glasses may look out of proportion on a larger individual.
5 Consider your facial shape when selecting frames. Although ovate faces generally can get by with any shape of glasses, those with other face shapes can often use frames to help offset such characteristics as a square jaw or high forehead.
6 ake a camera with you when selecting eyeglass frames. Ask someone to take photos of you in various frames; take the photos home and study them for a couple of days before you make your selection. As an alternative, you might like to try on glasses in a “virtual” frame store. You simply upload a picture of yourself and “try on” different frames. A link to one of these sites is provided in Resources.
Tips & Warnings
Look for glasses while sporting a fresh hairstyle and any makeup you usually wear.
Ask about warranties on frames before you purchase them.