Go to the pros to avoid the suck of bad glasses! So it is time to buy new glasses and it is usually an exciting time but often very stressful too! You take a friend or family member to help you pick out some fresh new frames, but what do they really know about optics? Probably nothing! But wait, they might read something about how round faces should get this style and oval faces should get that style of frame and so on. While that information is good generally, it really doesn't provide all the help you need. This is why you go to your favorite optical shop and talk to the licensed Optician because they look at way more than just face shape. Hopefully!

When selecting new glasses, I always start with checking out the prescription. This is your biggest limiting factor and yes, this is literally the reason you need glasses in the first place. Some frame styles just won't work for some prescriptions and you've got to know what goes with what, or else you'll run into problems and your usability and appearance will be compromised. Some frames will add extra thickness to your lenses and some will push the optical centers out of your direct line of sight, creating discomfort and visual disturbances that will definitely get annoying, and potentially be a really bad situation. Others may not allow your progressive lenses to fit in fully, and then you could lose part of your prescription because the frame is too small.

So I always start with examining the prescription closely and work out options from there. I typically get an idea of what styles the customer likes and then present them with 3-4 top options to choose from. If you start looking at frames and find one you like, only to later discover it won't work for your prescription, it creates major disappointment and takes way longer. Also, if you just get let loose in the optical store and grab the first thing you see without any questions, you could set yourself up for failure. Not all shops are created equal and neither are all opticians, so you've got to pick where you go very carefully.

After evaluating the prescription and selecting some potential frames, I look out for a few key things. Are the frames sitting below or above the eyebrows? Typically I want them to hit at or slightly below the eyebrows. Are they resting on the cheeks? No way, you don't want frames on your cheeks since that can cause the lenses to slide up and down when smiling or talking, and it may also lead to skin irritation issues. Are they too wide or too narrow? Ideally you want about a two millimeter space between the sides of your head and the temples (arms, stems, whatever you call them). Some frames make the lenses extra thick depending on your prescription. You'll either have frame limitations because the lenses can't fit, or you'll have your choice of anything depending on the prescription. A general rule is stronger prescriptions work best in smaller, rounder frames. But this is an oversimplification - you really need guidance from a professional.

Your eyes also need to be centered in the frame. The optical centers have to be precisely lined up with your eyes, otherwise you may experience visual disturbances. The temple length should be long enough to go behind your ears and gently bend at a 45 degree angle, but they shouldn't hang down by your earlobe. Sort of about halfway down the ear at most. Full frame or rimless? Rimless are fragile and probably not the best choice for a primary pair of glasses, plus certain prescriptions don't do well in them. Always check with your optician on this the pro that knows. Materials and special frame features could be a topic all on their own! The best metals are usually Titanium and stainless steel in my opinion. My go-to frames are often from Japan - they have outstanding quality and use some of the best materials, with some using flexible titanium molded in one piece for the flex hinge without any springs that can fail over time. You've probably never heard of the brand names but the price is about the same as big name brands where you're just paying for the label.

In the end, the bottom line is to use an optician with a great reputation who is dedicated to crafting you the best possible pair of glasses. Have an in-depth one-on-one session and get the prescription perfectly matched with the best suitable frame. Not every prescription works for every style, and not every frame is right for every prescription. If they tell you to just go pick out whatever without doing this evaluation, I'd probably keep looking elsewhere. Glasses shopping isn't like buying shoes where your friends can select them - you really need a pro to guide you properly from the start for the best results. It's fun to browse styles but you must remember this is about your vision, and without qualified optician guidance you risk choosing something that looks good on the shelf but could be a total nightmare with your actual prescription.