Hello my bespectacled friends. A lot of people visit our store wondering why their glasses pinch, sit crooked on their face, slide off, or even feel off-center. These are all symptoms of the dreaded improperly fitted glasses. But don’t reach for the tape or try to bend your glasses into shape just yet. We are going to solve five common issues associated with improperly fitted glasses.

Problem 1: Slip and Slide Spectacles

One minute you’re lost in your daily newspaper and the next minute everything is a blur. This frustrating issue is typically caused by the temples not sufficiently curving behind the ears, the nose pads on metal frames not being fitted to suit the client’s unique bridge shape, or in some cases the frame is just too tight against the side of the head forcing the glasses forward. I have some quick fixes to ensure your glasses stay put.

Solution: The most common method of addressing this problem is heating the temples, which are the part of the glasses that curve around the ears. By heating the temples you can manipulate the glasses safely without breaking them. After applying a comfortable degree of heat, the temples can be bent down and curved to the shape of the head behind the ears.

Another tactic is using needle nose pliers to gently bring in the nose pads. Applying light pressure and steady movements, as jerky movements are a recipe for broken glasses, they can then be contoured to fit the topography of the nose.

If the two previous options don’t work for you, there’s no need to toss those glasses. Have no fear, we have another tried and true quick fix. Frames that are too tight can also cause slipping. To remedy this scenario, the hinge joints that connect to the temples need to be filed so that the temples are at a 120 degree angle. The ends of the temples can then be flared back in to contour to the back of the head.

Problem 2: Crooked Frames

Crooked frames are reminiscent of a mad scientist. But there are ways to get your frames straight once more. Crooked glasses often occur when the temples aren’t parallel to each other, your ears are at different levels (don’t worry this is normal), or the right side of the frame is not in alignment with the left side of the frame. If you place your glasses upside down on a flat table you can see if the alignment has gone awry.

Solution: One way to set your spectacles straight is to gently bend the hinge in a downward or upward motion, depending on the type of misalignment. Do this slowly to avoid damaging your frames.

Heating the bridge makes the glasses much easier to work with. Once the bridge is malleable, the offending side of the frame needs to be rotated to match the other side. Symmetry once more!

Problem 3: Pinching Frames

Nothing is worse than tight fitting glasses that pinch and dig into the skull. If this is the case, breathe a sigh of relief because you may have found the source of your recent headaches. When the frame chosen is too small, the bend behind the ears starts before the earlobe or the temples are not contoured, which is why they dig into the head.

Solution: As we discussed before, the hinge joints may need to be filed so that the temples are at 120 degrees. The ends of temples are then flared back in again to fit the sides of the head. If the temples are either too short or too long, the heating method is sometimes used to readjust the position of the temples. The bridge width on frames with nose pads are often easier to fix. You can loosen the nose pads for optimal comfort. If you have the chronic issue with all frames feeling tight, consider a pair of glasses with spring hinges.

Problem 4: Off-Centered Lenses

Off-centered lenses can leave you wondering if someone slipped something into your morning coffee. Your vision and depth perception will be skewed, which can cause headaches and discomfort. When lenses are off-center you aren’t able to see through the optical center of your lenses. This can be disorienting and create less than perfect vision. Off-centered lenses occur when the lenses are edged incorrectly or the measurements aren’t taken properly. The optician not only has to measure the horizontal position of the distance between the pupils, but should also inquire as to how the client intends to use the glasses. They must then institute this knowledge as well, when determining the horizontal position.

Solution: Unfortunately, the only remedy to this problem is to have new lenses made. This is a good time to check out your warranty.

Problem 5: Over or Undersized Eyewear

And last but not least, the bane of glasses wearers everywhere: Over or undersized eyewear. If a frame is sold to a client that is too small or too large, this is typically because the measurements are off or the frames just don’t fit the anatomy of the face. This can cause several of the problems we’ve discussed in this tutorial, such as the temples digging into the skull and sliding frames.

Solution: For comfort and superhero vision, it’s best to have new eyeglasses made or at least have the lenses edged down and placed into a smaller frame. You can even have the lenses inserted into a frame with a larger bridge and temple extensions to increase the overall width. Plus, properly sized eyewear is flattering and there is nothing like a spectacular pair of spectacles.

While these solutions can help you fix your glasses, the best solution is finding that perfect pair of glasses the first time. Well crafted, quality glasses look and feel fantastic. Relying on professionals to take proper measurements and help you find frames suited to your face will eliminate many of the common issues associated with eyewear. Swing by The Spectacle Shoppe in the heart of Kerrisdale for expert care and advice. Whether you are looking for eyeglass frames, sunglasses, contact lenses, or eyewear accessories, we are your one stop shop for the perfect fit. Reading this from afar? Visit, spectacleshop.ca and shop our selection online worry-free.

Enjoy your comfortable glasses, especially now that you have the information you need to be a spectacles adjusting wizard.

- Leo Franken, The Spectacle Shoppe