Parts of Optical Frames

Optical frames, the housing or frame for prescription lenses, come in many different styles, colors and shapes. They are made up of several parts that serve varying purposes when it comes to how the frames look and rest on your face. Learning to recognize them can help you to identify what needs repairing if they should become broken or loose fitting.

The Lenses

• The lenses of the glasses, made of either plastic or glass, are the optical component of your frame. They are the portion of the glasses you look through. An optician makes the lenses according to your prescription and cuts them to fit within the rim of the frame.

Frame Front and Rims

• The frame front is the most visible part of the glasses. Made of either plastic or metal, it includes the rims that hold the lenses in place and the bridge.

The Bridge

• The the bridge goes across the nose between the rims. According to Vision Rx, it supports approximately 90 percent of the eyeglass weight. Bridges include the keyhole bridge, shaped like a keyhole, and the saddle bridge, which resembles a saddle and works well with heavier glasses.

  Some bridges have an adjustable nose pad that can be moved for comfort; a double bridge has a reinforcing bar across the top.

End Pieces

• The end pieces extend from the frame front. Attached to the rims, they are where the temples meet and attach to the frame front.

Hinges

• Hinges connect the temples to the frame front and allow the temples to swing open or closed. External hinges are mounted on the inside of the shaft of the temple, while internal hinges are inside the shaft and not visible. A spring hinge, which can bend further than normal hinges, can be external or internal.

The Temples

• The temples are the portion of frames that extend out to the ears. They help keep the glasses in place by resting on, over and behind the ears. There are different types of temples for different fits and purposes. For example, skull temples, which are usually part of plastic frames, follow the contour of the skull.

Nose Pad and Pad Arms

• Pad arms attach nose pads to the frame.

  Nose pads, the plastic pieces meant to keep the frames in place and rest on the nose, are often cushioned and can be round or oblong. Nose pads, often found on metal frames, are attached to the frame with pad arms.

Temple Tips

• Temple tips are plastic sheaths that cover the ends of temples. Often found on metal-framed glasses, they add cushion and comfort where they rest against the wearer's head.