164 million Americans over the age of 16 wear glasses – the majority of them due to a visual impairment. However, some also wear glasses purely for fashion reasons, because in recent years glasses have developed from a useful accessory into a real must-have. There is no doubt about it: Wearing eyeglasses is a fashion trend!
Whether large nerd glasses or rather small, discreet models, frameless glasses or those with a striking frame – glasses are now available in an infinite number of variations. And even the lenses themselves now come with all kinds of extras, meaning that the perfect pair of eyeglasses can really be found for every visual need.
Yet how do I actually find the right pair of glasses among the wide variety of shapes, colors and lenses? We reveal the most important tips that will help you find the perfect eyeglasses for you.
Tip #1: Identify your own needs and uses
Before you worry about the look and fit of a pair of glasses, you should first ask yourself when and for what purpose you need a pair of glasses. After all, glasses not only come in different designs, but also for different areas of use and needs. And those needs can be very different from person to person who wears glasses.
Are you working in front of a computer all day? Then you need different eyeglasses than someone who only wears them for reading or driving. Do you spend a lot of time outdoors and want to wear your glasses for sports? Then this should also be taken into account in your decision.
In addition, consider whether you want to wear your glasses all day or if you rarely use them and prefer to wear contact lenses instead. It will be easier for the optician to help you find the perfect pair of glasses for you the more detailed the information you provide.
Glasses for Those Working on the PC
For anyone who spends a lot of time in front of a screen, special screen eyeglasses with an integrated blue light filter are ideal. All smartphones, computers, tablets, televisions and LED lights emit short-wave blue light. It has not yet been sufficiently researched whether the radiations are strong enough to damage our retina. However, it is certain that over a longer period of time they lead to eye pain, fatigue, headaches and lack of concentration.
Blue light filter glasses filter out the harmful blue light and prevent it from hitting the eye. As a result, the eyes are relieved and health complaints are prevented.
Tip #2: The Right Eyeglass Lenses
When it comes to buying a new pair of eyeglasses, most people first look for a beautiful frame. However, much more important than the frame are the lenses. In the end, the choice of the right lenses determines the quality of vision.
Tip: Our recommendation is to have your optician align the lenses exactly to your pupils. The distance between the eye and the lens is usually determined for this, but the tilt of the head when reading and the individual eye movement are also decisive factors. In the optimum case, the eye should sit exactly in the center behind the lenses.
Plastic Lenses or Mineral Lenses?
Today, there is a wide variety of lenses with different functions. In the past, it was mainly mineral glass that was used, but today plastic lenses are used in more than 95 percent of cases. These lenses are hardly fragile and are lighter overall, which guarantees a particularly pleasant wearing experience.
The final thickness of the lenses is determined by the diopter strength and the refractive index of the material.
Lenses with Different Functions
Spectacle lenses can now do quite a lot. For instance, there are water-repellent or antistatic coatings or glasses with chameleon or photochromic lenses. This means self-tinting lenses that adapt to different light conditions in a matter of seconds and brighten or darken depending on the light intensity. As a result, there is no need to keep switching back and forth between prescription eyeglasses and sunglasses.
Outdoor sports enthusiasts (especially water sports enthusiasts or skiers) or people who work outdoors a lot should definitely have glasses with a good anti-reflective coating. So-called polarizing lenses catch reflective light and thus block reflections and disturbing light reflexes. These lenses also make sense for drivers – for example, to be able to see oncoming vehicles faster and better on wet roads.
Today, glasses can easily be tried on and ordered virtually. You can even have a small selection sent to your home for you to try on in some cases. This is of course practical and saves a trip to the optician. Nevertheless, we recommend an on-site consultation with a specialist – particularly if it’s your first pair of eyeglasses. He or she will help you make your choice and also determine the best measurements, lenses and frames for you, so that you can find the perfect glasses for you based on your needs.
Tip #3: Which Shape of Glasses Suits Me?
The shape of the face plays a big role in whether glasses fit us or not. Based on whether your face is square, round or heart-shaped, different shapes of glasses are flattering.
As a general rule of thumb, people with a round face should go for filigree and angular glasses, as round shapes make the face look broader, whereas angular face shapes look particularly good in round frames or models with oval lenses. This is because they make prominent facial features appear softer and more feminine.
In a heart-shaped, triangular face with a narrow chin area, filigree glasses models in an oval shape look great. Thick frames in dark colors are less suitable, because they can quickly slay the petite face. Those with a trapezoidal face should avoid glasses with very narrow lenses and rather go for frames with accentuated edges or modern cateye glasses. Do you have an oval face? Congratulations! Any shape of eyeglasses will suit you.
And by the way, even if you’re annoyed by dark circles under your eyes or the first wrinkles, if you’d rather have a different nose, or if you’d like your face to be a little tighter, you can make a big difference with the right glasses. This accessory can masterfully conceal small blemishes and, for example, shorten or lengthen noses or trick away wrinkles and dark shadows under the eyes.
Very important: Eyebrows, Face Length and Width
Not sure what shape your face is? No problem. The majority of faces are actually hybrid shapes and often cannot be clearly assigned to a specific shape. Therefore, we advise all those who are looking for a new pair of glasses to consider not only the face shape, but also the face length and width, as well as the eyebrows.
The upper line of the frame, for example, should not touch the eyebrows, but should ideally match the natural shape of the brows. In other words, straight and angular glasses are more suitable for straight eyebrows, while high-curved eyebrows or oval shapes are complemented with rather high, slightly round models, such as cateye glasses. In any case, the eyebrows should not disappear completely behind the eyeglasses, but at most be slightly covered by them.
Furthermore, you should make sure that the glasses correspond to the width of the face. In the ideal case, the glasses should be flush with the widest part of the face and should not protrude to the right or left. With regard to the length of the face, the following applies: Those with a long, narrow face or a very high forehead are best advised to go for eye-catching glasses with striking frames.
After all, they visually shorten the face. On the other hand, people with short, broad faces are better off with delicate metal glasses or models with discreet half-rim or browline frames. Eyeglasses with a color gradient that becomes lighter towards the bottom are also ideally suited to shorter faces.
Tip: The right glasses not only have to fit your face, but also your style. This is the only way to wear them properly. When trying on different models, you will soon realize which eyeglasses you really feel comfortable with and which ones suit you best.
Are you in the mood for a change of style? That’s perfect. For those who want to change their type with just one accessory, glasses are the way to go. Glasses can make you look more serious, casual, cool or even elegant and confident, depending on the model. For instance, eyeglasses with corners and edges convey seriousness, competence and determination, on the other hand, those with round and oval shapes exude gentleness, emotionality as well as empathy.
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Tip #4: What Color Should Eyeglasses Be?
You have decided on the shape of the glasses. What is missing now is the color of the glasses. Each person looks particularly good in a different color. The color that suits you best depends on the color type you belong to. We have four different color types: Summer type, winter type, spring type and autumn type. All the color types are based on hair color, complexion and eye color.
For example, blond or ash-brown hair with a silver-greyish undertone, a cool skin tone and blue, blue-green or gray eyes are typical for the cool summer and winter type. Glasses in cool colors such as black, gray, silver or blue look particularly good on them.
On the other hand, spring and autumn types have a warm complexion with a golden or yellowish undertone and usually blond or brown hair with a golden or reddish tinge. Glasses in warm colors like brown, olive green or gold suit them better.
The color of eyeglasses, however, should not only match your color type, but also your clothes. Glasses in a neutral color can be combined with many outfits. If you choose a metal frame, make sure you choose the same color as your jewelry. Golden frames harmonize with golden jewelry, silver frames with silver jewelry.
Tip #5: Test Different Models
Filigree and simple, colorful and eye-catching, rimless or with full rim – there is an absolutely endless choice of glasses. Not surprisingly, many are overwhelmed when buying a new pair of glasses. Our tip: When choosing your new glasses, take your time and try out different shapes, models and colors. It is often helpful to take photos of yourself with the different eyeglasses. From this perspective, it is usually easier to see whether the selected model fits or not.
Consult with your optician about design, material, lenses and price level. Then your optician can put together a pre-selection for you – adapted to your needs and wishes. This definitely makes it a little easier and saves you the time of having to fight your way through the variety of offers.
Tip #6: The Right Fit of the Glasses
After you have decided on a new model of glasses and all the important factors that need to be considered, your glasses will usually be made within a week. When the glasses are ready, you should have them adjusted on site by your optician.
It is important that the temples fit properly to ensure a comfortable wearing experience. If they are too long and wide, the glasses will slip off your face. If they are too short or too tight, they can pinch your ears and temples and cause headaches. Glasses should also not hit your eyebrows or rest on your cheekbones. Your optician can change both the length and the curvature of the temples later.
The new visual aid should also not sit on the root of the nose. This means that the bridge between the lenses should not press uncomfortably or even painfully on the root of the nose or cause unsightly pressure points. The same goes for the nose pads.
By the way: You need time to get used to a new pair of eyeglasses. It is therefore not unusual if your vision appears somewhat distorted at first. The length of time it takes to get used to a new pair of glasses varies from person to person. For some it takes only a few hours or days, for others several weeks. If the problems persist, you should consult your optician.
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