The internet can make buying glasses a breeze. If you have a prescription, it’s a cost-effective and convenient way to get new frames and lenses or replace old ones. If you don’t, buying online means you can easily get your hands on new fashionable eyewear releases – like the November 2024 collection from Marcolin and Pucci – even if they’re not immediately available where you are. That’s made it more popular to buy glasses online in recent years, especially among those who view eyewear as both a corrective aid and a fashion accessory.
As a result, buying glasses online is expected to become even more commonplace by the end of the decade. In fact, you may currently do so yourself by considering your face shape, frame color and material, and any prescription you may have can to find the best style glasses on the internet. However, there’s one even more crucial factor you need to consider: fit. After all, you can’t exactly test eyewear remotely like you would at an actual optical store!
Fortunately, it’s pretty easy to find the best-fitting glasses for your needs – even if you can’t check your preferred models out in person. Here’s what you need to do.
Try on Multiple Pairs
Online eyewear retailers have much more expansive catalogs than their physical counterparts, which is why finding the best fit starts with drafting a list of models that look good on you specifically. Instead of taking the time and effort to consider things like your skin’s undertone and the shade of your hair to pick your frames, you can streamline the process and simply try on glasses online just like you would at a physical store. Glasses.com’s virtual mirror shows that all you need to do is go to a product page and click the “Try Them On” button. Advanced augmented reality (AR) technology will map out and measure your face, then place the digital version of a pair on your face through your device’s camera. From here, you can save the styles you like for future reference. That way, you can visually assess a glasses’ look and fit even if you’re just at home – making it easier to see if they’ll both suit you and be comfortable to wear.
Narrow Down by Size
Once you have a number of models to choose from, you can narrow down your options by checking their sizes and comparing them to your own facial measurements. If you already have some glasses at home, check the insides of the temple arms, the back of the nose bridge, or inside the nose piece itself. Manufacturers usually stamp on measurements here. These will always come in threes detailing lens diameter, bridge width, and arm length in millimeters, such as 61-15-123. Compare the first two measurements with those of the models you’re eyeing to get a similar fit. Otherwise, grab a rule and measure the distance between your temples (also in millimeters) to get your frame width. You can then compare that to the measurements on product pages. Retailers like Eyebuydirect go further by providing detailed diagrams instead of just numbers, which should make it easier to shorten your list of purchase options. That way, you won’t end up with frames that are so tight they cause headaches – or are so loose that they fall off easily.
Consider Your Bridge Fit
Bridge fit is crucial for ensuring your eyewear is stable and comfortable to wear. The reason why you’ll want to consider this separately from other glasses measurements is because many retailers offer different bridge options depending on the kind of nose you have. Aside from “universal” fit, for example, many retailers allow you to filter their offerings by other bridge choices like “high” and “low,” or get a pair with adjustable nosepads. Some eyewear brands go even further. That includes Maui Jim, which designs more comprehensive low nose bridge eyewear – something also known as the “Asian fit.” Specs like its Keha Asian Fit 664, which can serve as both corrective glasses and polarized sunglasses, have modified, built-up nosepads perfect for wearers with flatter, wider nose bridges. These help them better hug the contours of the face and position the lenses more optimally in relation to the cheeks, so they don’t touch the cheeks or forehead. Many brands offer similar bridge designs based on race-related facial characteristics, so it’s worth looking into them to find the best-fitting bridge option for you online.
Add Your Pupillary Distance
If you’re buying glasses to both bolster your wardrobe and correct your eyesight, you’ll also need to look at pupillary distance to get the best fit. It measures the space between the centers of your pupils to guarantee visual comfort. Without it, the glasses you buy might end up straining your eyes, causing headaches, or failing to correct your vision at all. To measure it at home, you’ll also need a ruler – and, ideally, a friend. Have them align the 0-millimeter mark with your right pupil so they can take your measurements as you look at an object 10 to 20 feet away. If you’d rather do this on your own, don’t worry: the virtual mirrors major retailers like Walmart come with additional tools that can automatically help you measure pupillary distance online. These similarly use AR, algorithms, and 3D data to ensure accuracy. Regardless of your method, try to repeat the process twice for the best results. Your pupillary distance should fall between 50 to 75 millimeters, which is the average range for adults.
Images from Sunny Side Up by Eric Hason – see full article here.
