Ask an Expert: How do I know my glasses fit?
Dear America’s Best,
I found a frame in your online catalog that I absolutely love! Here they are:
I can’t believe that America’s Best carries such a great selection of fantastic brands at such phenomenal prices. I’m ready to order my frame, but there’s just one thing I can’t quite figure out. That is: my size!
How do I know what size frame I need? Could you please explain to me what my size options are and how glasses sizing works? I need to know the right way glasses fit before I order them. Thank you.
Sincerely,
Kaitlyn in New Mexico
Dear Kaitlyn,
I’m glad you found a frame you love. You made a great pick. Your eyeglass frame size is a combination of three separate numbers. The first number is the size of the eyeglass lens. Most frames only come in one or two lens sizes. For this reason many opticians recommend trying on a variety of frames to see what size glasses fit you the best.
The 7 for All Mankind frame you’ve chosen comes in only one “eye” size. That is 52mm. This is the width of the lens. (The height of the lens is not normally a part of the eyeglass size though often that information is available when you research the frame. In this case, the height is 33mm.)
The second part of the eyeglass frame size is the bridge width. The bridge is the part of eyeglass frame that connects the two eyeglass lenses over the nose. In the frame you chose, the bridge size is 19mm.
The third and final part of the eyeglass size equation is the length of the frames’ temples. Temple is just a fancier name for the earpieces. Temple lengths also vary from frame to frame. In some instances, you’ll get a choice between two standard sizes, in other instances you’ll only have one choice. In the frame you’ve chosen, the temple length is 140mm.
So how do you know this frame will fit? The good news is that these standard sizes were chosen because they will fit most women comfortably. Unless your face is very small or large, you’ll probably do just fine with the size (written as: 52-19-140) of this frame.
Of course, one of the most important aspects of eyeglass fit happens after you choose a frame. Your optician will adjust your finished eyeglass frame to fit your face just right, including adjusting the temples so the glasses sit straight and level on your face.
If you have more questions about glasses fit, watch our Youtube video!
