Each part of your pair of eyeglasses works together to provide you with clear vision. However, when a part of your glasses breaks or stops working correctly, it can be tough to determine the problem without knowing the terms.
Understanding each component of glasses and how they fit together can help you discuss and fix the problem with the help of an optician. In our guide, we'll discuss the main parts of glasses and adjustments you can make to ensure a comfortable fit.
Core Components of Glasses
The main components of glasses include:
Frame
The frame is everything surrounding the lenses, making up the basic structure of your eyeglasses. The frame is typically made of acetate or metal, with styles ranging from full-rim to semi-rimless, rimless and keyhole. Metal frames are highly durable and resistant to bending or breaking, and acetate frames are lightweight, providing greater comfort for long-term wear. Additionally, acetate frames offer versatility in patterns and colors, while metal frames have a sleek, minimalist style that appeals to many wearers.
Lenses
Lenses are the clear material that sits right in front of your eyes and helps you see clearly, as they contain your personal eye prescription. Lenses are typically made from glass, high-index plastic or polycarbonate. In many cases, the cause of vision problems is a refractive error, which is when light does not focus correctly on the retina.
Changing the shape of the glass allows the light to focus on the correct part of the retina so you can see clearly. Lenses are available in various styles and features to correct common vision problems, from bifocals and progressives to transition lenses. You can also get lens coatings and treatments like anti-reflective, scratch-resistant and UV protection.
Rims, Nose Pads and Bridge
The rims, nose pads and bridge are all within the frame, surrounding the lenses.
- Rims: This is the part of the eyeglasses frame that holds the lenses and gives glasses their distinctive style. The rims can be round, oval, square or any shape that will accommodate prescription lenses. Depending on the style, some glasses may have full rims, and others may have semi-rimless frames.
- Bridge: The bridge is an essential part of the frame, supporting its weight. It is the connective bit of material between the two rims that lies across the bridge of your nose. The bridge determines the comfort and fit of your glasses, making it important that they suit your face shape.
- Nose pads: The nose pads are also another part of the glasses that ensure comfort and fit. Often made from silicone, acetate or titanium, the nose pads are under the bridge of both sides of the nose, ensuring the glasses don't fall off your face. Nose pads are often built in plastic frames, while metal frames contain nose pads as separate parts connected by nose pad arms.
A top bar, also known as a brow bar or sweat bar, is another component included in some eyeglasses. It's a second bar placed just above the bridge, added as a decorative element or to make the frame more sturdy.
Temples
The temples, also known as the arms, are the long parts of the glasses that hold up the frames and rest over your ears. They are connected by the hinge on each side of the frame and can be straight, curved or cable. The temples also include temple tips — the plastic parts at the very end designed to make your glasses feel more comfortable behind your ears.
The temples provide support to keep the glasses in place on your face. They help distribute the weight of the glasses evenly, reducing pressure on the nose and ears. It's important to have your temples adjusted to get the right fit behind your ears, which can keep them from slipping or sliding.
Hinges
A hinge is a joint on the temple of an eyeglass that allows it to open and close. It also affects how well the frame fits the face. There are three types of hinge glasses — spring, barrel and hingeless.
- Spring: These hinges offer a snug fit. They come with an attached spring that can bend past 90 degrees. When glasses bend and twist, the spring takes the majority of the force, restoring balance and fit without needing to adjust them.
- Barrel: Most hinges are barrel hinges, which have metal rings that fit into each other like zippers. In these hinges, rings are held in place by a small screw.
- Hingeless: These are frames without hinges, featuring curved temples sculpted to fit the shape of the wearer's head. Hingeless frames also typically do not have rims and are made of a sturdy but pliable material.
Enhancing Comfort and Functionality: Adjustments and Mechanisms
Ensuring the right fit for your glasses is important for clear vision and comfort. However, eyeglasses can loosen or become misaligned with time, making adjustments necessary. If you find that your glasses are slipping or putting pressure on your face, you can consult with an eye care professional to get a more comfortable fit. Here are some other tips:
- Ensure a proper size: You'll need an accurate pupillary distance (PD) measurement to ensure your glasses fit correctly and function optimally. Be sure to have a professional measure your PD to prevent discomfort.
- Adjust the nose pads: If your glasses constantly slip down your face, put pressure on your nose or leave red marks, you'll need to adjust the nose pads. Slipping glasses indicate they are too loose, while red marks can indicate the nose pads are too tight. Take your glasses to an optician, who will loosen or tighten them until they fit comfortably.
- Tighten loose screws: Sometimes, the screws on the hinges can loosen or fall out, causing your frames to feel wobbly or uncomfortable. If you notice any issues with the screws, you can tighten them with a small screwdriver and thread locker gel for adherence. Check the screws regularly to ensure you don't lose any, as they can loosen with wear and tear.
- Try baby powder: If the back of your ears are aching after wearing new glasses, this might have more to do with the skin behind your ears than the actual glasses. If you're new to wearing glasses, the skin behind your ears can be sensitive. While waiting for them to toughen up, a little bit of baby powder can prevent chaffing and make your glasses more comfortable to wear.
Get Started at Eyemart Express Today
The opticians at Eyemart Express love helping customers find the perfect pair of glasses so you can see the moment! We'll help you get a secure, comfortable pair, and we can make adjustments if needed to make sure they're a perfect fit.
Choose from over 2,000 frames and get your glasses with same-day speed. We also offer free in-store tune-ups for your glasses, including hinge tightening, nose pad replacements, cleaning and framing rebalancing. Visit an Eyemart Express near you, or browse our frames online today.
