How to Measure Your Eyeglass Size

Three numbers provide the size of your eyeglass frames: the length of the lenses, bridge and arm. These measurements are usually printed or etched on your glasses along one of the arms or ear pieces. Use these numbers as a guide when purchasing new glasses. Go for a smaller lens width if your glasses seem too large for your face, a larger bridge if your eyelashes press against the glass or longer arms if the ear pieces curve before they reach your ears.

Things You'll Need

• Eyeglasses
• Metric ruler
• Pen
• Paper
• Mirror

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Instructions

• 1

  Place the ruler flat on a table.

• 2

  Measure the width of the lenses and bridge at the widest points by resting the glasses on the ruler and looking at the measurements from directly above. Write down all measurements in millimeters.

• 3

  Place the glasses on their side so that the arm of the frame is flush against the edge of the ruler. Place a pen at the tip of the ear piece, vertically; this point marks the length of the arm. The length of the arm from the lug to the tip of the earpiece does not follow the curve, but proceeds horizontally as if the straight part of the arm continued.

• 4

  Put on the glasses and examine your face in the mirror. Consider the size of the eyeglasses by asking yourself, for example, is the bridge too wide for my nose, do the ear pieces hang too far over my ears, is the front of the frame too wide for my face?