How to Find the Right Eye Glasses

Eyeglasses are more than just a medical device to help you see clearly; there are so many frame and lens styles and options available today that eyeglasses are considered by many to be a fashion statement. Choosing a pair that frames your face and flatters your features is essential to looking polished and professional. Consider factors such as face shape, comfort and frame style to help you choose the perfect frames for you.

Instructions

• 1

  Determine your face shape. Most people fall into one of four categories: square, heart, round or oval. If your face is as long as it is wide with a strong jaw, you're more than likely square. If your face is top-heavy with a wide forehead and narrow chin, you have a heart-shaped face. If you have full youthful cheeks, you may be round. Oval shapes usually have soft facial contours, with cheekbones that start slightly higher than the middle of your face.

• 2

  Choose frames to flatter your face shape. The general rule that most experts agree on when it comes to glasses is to play against your facial contours, according to Deborah Lochli-McGrath, spokesperson for the Vision Council of America. You don't want your glasses to reinforce and emphasize your basic face shape. So if you have a round or oval shaped face, you'll look best in bolder, more angular frames in darker colors. If you have a square or heart-shaped face with harder lines, try a rimless or curvier style to downplay the hard edges of your facial lines.

• 3

  Select a pair that complements your hair color. According to the Global Eyeglasses website, people with darker hair look better in darker, thicker frames in gold or silver. People with lighter colored or finer hair look best in delicate styled or rimless frames. Redheads look good in golden frames, and those with gray hair may want to consider slightly tinted glasses with shades of red and blue to offset their gray hair.

• 4

  Try on several pairs of frames, and make sure they're comfortable on your face. If the frames slide off your nose, your eye doctor can adjust the temple length of the stems. If the nose pads pinch your nose, the optician can replace them with smaller or softer ones, or find a similar frame style. If the frames are too wide or too narrow, consider trying them in a different size. Lochli-McGrath says you should always check to be sure that your eyes are centered in the middle of the lenses when you try on a pair of frames. The stems of the glasses should not tip up or down, but should go straight back to your ears and sit comfortably on your head.