glasses to suit my face

[Jeannne92]

First time getting glasses! How on earth do I choose ?

This is a good guide for general fit:
https://cdn.allaboutvision.com/infographic-how-should-glasses-fit-compressor.png

In terms of face shape, broadly speaking, round faces suit square/angular frames and square faces suit rounder frames. Squoval for in-between. Of course, you have to try them on to see! Colour depends on your complexion but usually when you put on a pair of frames you can see whether it 'lifts'/brightens your face.

Specsavers have a clever widget. You take your photo 3 times following the instructions. You then pick glasses & "try on" with your photo. Gives a reasonable idea.

As a full-time glasses wearer for the last 40 years, this is my advice:

Try on a good selection of frames, even those you don't think will suit you, and take a photograph of yourself in each pair. Go home and browse the photos to choose at your leisure.

Remember you don't have to get your glasses from the same optician that gave you your prescription, so if you find nothing you like, try elsewhere.

Two-for-one offers are very much worthwhile as you can choose two different styles for different occasions/outfits/moods. It's worth getting one pair as 'transition' lenses (they adjust to sunlight so will serve as prescription sunglasses).

Spend as much as you can afford, do not skimp, as your glasses will be part of your face, one of the first things people see.

If you have a straightforward, single-vision prescription, you can buy extra pairs online very cheaply; e.g. Glasses Direct They're not as good as properly fitted glasses in my experience, but can give extra choice for occasional wear.

If you go to a good private optician they will have someone who can advise you on shape and size. DH isn’t bothered about his glasses and let the staff decide!

Try on lots of styles even ones you think won’t suit or don’t like. Take pics of yourself in each pair - esp useful if, like me, you can’t see without your actual glasses on. I always take DH or a friend with me for advice.

Yes just try on lots and lots and then try on some more. I wouldn't get overly hung up over face shape rules.

Although I love how my glasses look they weren't properly fitted by the staff in my local Vision Express. My face is small and the glasses now slip down a lot.

It hasn't occurred to me to shop elsewhere after I got my prescription but I will now.

@Livedandlearned

i too have a small face and when I first started wearing glasses I didn’t realise the importance of size of the frame, especially the bridge. No amount of tweaking will get a pair which are too large to fit. My first pair were resting on my cheekbones, despite being one of the smaller ones on offer. I found that I needed to go to an independent to find ranges suitable.

Go to a shop with a good selection of frames and try on loads. Some will give good advice about your face shape/size etc.
If you're not near an optician with a good selection, order 5 different styles to try at home from Bloobloom.
Some sites (I think Ace and Tate) give good advice about which styles suit different face shapes.

I am in the same situation, I took my daughter with me and she took some terrible pictures of me in various different glasses and was too bothered looking on TikTok to give me a valid opinion. I am going to make an appointment and this time take my sister with me

Glasses to correct long sightedness tend to make eyes look bigger and the one for short sightedness make eyes look smaller.
Lens to correct short sightedness are thicker on the outside edge. It's easier to "lose" that bulk with plastic frames.

Think about your brow line.
Some large frames will mean half your cheeks are covered.
If you are getting varifocals consider where the reading part of the lens will be.

Only way is to try a lot of frames on. Agree with PP who says don’t get hung up on the face shape ‘rules’ - in my experience it doesn’t mean much. There’s a LOT more to a face than just shape, for example distance between eyes, size of nose, height of bridge, brow position, distance to ears etc etc.
You also need to factor in which frames suit your prescription (a dispensing optician can help with this, though if it’s your first glasses I’m assuming it’s not a high prescription so you won’t be too limited)
Go to an opticians with a good selection and ask for advice

Can they not be adjusted if you go back in?

Try as many pairs as you can! I go somewhere like Vision Express that does good brands but then buy them online and have lenses put in locally, it has saved me a lot of money.

If you have a modest prescription and an average sized face, then the advice above is excellent. I agree that photos you review at home is the way to go.

If this is your first time, don't expect to sort it in one visit. On the first one, try on a sample of lots of different styles. Then at home, narrow it down to 'metallic/darker/small frame/rounder shape' or whatever conclusions the photos lead you to. Then go back and ask the staff to find you whatever they have that meets these criteria. Do this in two or three shops if you have the time.

Don't be tempted by a pair that looks good if the fit isn't right. By all means ask if it can be adjusted, but be aware that some things can't be changed. Frames with separate nose pads are generally more adjustable than those without.

If you have a particularly large/small face and/or a high prescription then there will be a much more limited range of suitable frames. In this case I'd recommend starting with the question 'do you have a range that would be particularly good for my prescription and face size' and going from there. Otherwise you'll spend ages trying to decide between things that won't work anyway.

Finally, if you have a local optical manufacturing business consider going there to get your lenses (some sell frames as well, but have a limited selection). This can make the whole thing a lot more affordable.

Just following for advice. I’ve got an eye test next week and I just know my prescriptions changed and I’m going to have the hell that is choosing new frames.

I have never got it right. I dislike my current ones. They were part of a two for one offer and were the ‘they’ll do’ pair. Dd broke the ones I actually didn’t mind! 😩

If you can't find two you like, I'd get two of the same frame next time - no point in getting a 'they'll do' pair that you don't really like. You might find a frame that comes in different colours/finishes that you could get two of.