How to Tell if Your Glasses Fit: Bridge, Temples & Slipping
Learn how to tell if your glasses fit: check the bridge, temples and frame width, and fix slipping, pinching and red marks with simple steps.
4 min de lecturePar IGIOO Optical
Dans cet article
Well-fitting glasses sit level on your face, rest lightly on the nose without leaving deep marks, and stay put when you look down or turn your head. If yours slide, pinch or tilt, the cause is almost always one of three things: the bridge, the temples or the overall frame width.
The five-second fit check
Put the glasses on, look straight into a mirror and run through this list before anything else:
- Level: both lenses sit at the same height, with no tilt.
- Centred: your eyes sit roughly in the middle of each lens.
- Width: the frame is about as wide as your face at the temples, without pressing.
- Top edge: the brow line of the frame follows your eyebrows, not above or far below them.
- Distance: your lashes do not brush the lenses.
Bridge: where slipping usually starts
The bridge carries most of the weight. If the frame sits too low on the nose it will slide forward; too high, and it pushes your cheeks or leaves red marks. A bridge that is too narrow perches on top of the nose, a bridge that is too wide drops the lenses and pulls your eyes off-centre.
The bridge number is printed on the temple, for example 18 or 20 (in millimetres). Compare it with a pair that already feels good. Our frame size measurement guide shows where to find it.
Temples: grip without pressure
Temples should run straight back along the sides of your head and curve down behind the ears. A good fit touches the ears gently. Warning signs are a dull ache behind the ears after an hour, or a frame that creeps forward when you smile.
| What you notice | Likely cause | What helps |
|---|---|---|
| Slides down the nose | Bridge too wide or temples too loose | Narrower bridge, snugger temple tips |
| Pinches at the sides | Frame too narrow | Go up one frame width |
| Red marks on the nose | Bridge too narrow or heavy frame | Wider bridge, lighter material |
| Tilts to one side | Uneven ears or bent temples | Have the temples adjusted |
Frame width and lens height
Frame width is the total distance across the front. If it is much wider than your face, the glasses swing and slide; if it is narrower, the temples push inward. Lens height matters too, especially for progressive lenses, which need enough vertical space for the reading zone. Our face shape guide pairs shapes with proportions.
Simple things you can try at home
- Wash the glasses: oils on the nose pads and temple tips make them slip more.
- Check the screws on the hinges; a loose one lets the temples spread.
- Try a pair of silicone nose-pad covers or temple grips if the frame is almost right.
- Do not bend metal frames sharply by hand; small adjustments only, or ask an optician.
Choosing a frame that fits from the start
Measure a pair you already like, note the lens width, bridge and temple length, and look for frames close to those numbers. Lightweight materials such as TR90 and thin metal frames put less weight on the nose, while acetate gives a solid, stable feel. Every order includes a 14-day fit and style guarantee, so you can see how a pair feels in real life.
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Frequently asked questions
Why do my glasses slide down my nose?
Most often the bridge is too wide for your nose or the temples are too loose. Sweat and skin oils make it worse, so clean the pads first.
Should glasses leave marks on my nose?
A faint, brief mark is normal after wearing for a long time. Deep or lasting marks usually mean the frame is too heavy or the bridge too narrow.
Can I adjust glasses myself?
You can tighten hinge screws and add grips. Bending the frame is best left to an optician, especially with acetate and titanium.
Does the fit change with a stronger prescription?
Stronger lenses can be heavier, which makes a good bridge and snug temples more important. Smaller lens shapes also keep weight down.
Find a pair that sits right
Browse all eyeglasses or our prescription glasses. Add your prescription in a few clicks with our lens selector.
