An ill-fitting pair of glasses can be uncomfortable to say the least, as well as downright annoying. When it comes to finding glasses that look great and fit properly, there’s no such thing as one-size fits-all.
The bridge of your nose has a part to play in getting comfortable glasses because the right bridge fit is an important part of properly fitting glasses.
About Bridge Fit
Glasses should fit securely on the bridge of your nose without pinching. You should be able to bend over, move your head from side to side or execute any movement without your glasses falling off or sliding up and down on your nose.
If the bridge fit is too small, your glasses will sit too high on your nose and they’ll pinch. If the bridge is too big, your frames with be constantly sliding down.
Measuring Bridge Fit
Eyeglass frame measurements consist of three numbers; for example, 55-16-140. The middle number is the bridge width, which is the distance between the lenses. Bridge width numbers range from 14-24.
If your nose is narrow or your eyes are close together, you’ll need a lower number but, if your nose is wider or your eyes are set further apart, you’ll need a higher bridge number. People who are nearly bridgeless usually do better with metal frames with adjustable nose pads. This is often the case for children, as their noses are not yet fully developed.
It’s important to note that, just because you had a certain bridge measurement for your last pair of glasses, doesn’t mean the same measurement will work for your next pair, because the depth of the lenses and bridge design affects the fit.
Shape and Position Affects Fit
The shape and position of the nose bridge can make or break the fit and looks of a pair of glasses. Not all frame styles will be flattering or comfortable on you regardless of how well they fit on your nose.
When looking for a new pair of glasses, note where the bridge is located in relation to the brow line. Is your nose bridge is high, that is, above your pupils, you’ll want to go for frames with a bridge that is in line with or close to the brow line.
If you have a low bridge that is at or below the pupils, look for frames with a bridge below the brow line or those with curved brow lines.
Bridge Troubleshooting
If your present pair of glasses is irritating the bridge of your nose, there are a few things you can try to make them more comfortable until you have the time and/or resources to get a new pair.
Glasses with adjustable nose pads can be moved closer together with needle nose pliers to make the bridge narrower and prevent them from sliding down your face. If the frames are pinching your nose or sitting too high, you can widen the nose pads in a similar way.
If these measures don’t work, take your eyeglasses in to an optical store to see if they can adjust them to fit you more comfortably. Most optical stores will perform this service for free.
