BUY NOW!

BUY NOW!

BUY NOW!

BUY NOW!

BUY NOW!

BUY NOW!

BUY NOW!

BUY NOW!

BUY NOW!

BUY NOW!

BUY NOW!

BUY NOW!

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

BUY NOW!

BUY NOW!

BUY NOW!

BUY NOW!

BUY NOW!

BUY NOW!

What is refraction?

Refraction is the bending of light as it passes through one object to another. Vision occurs when light rays are bent (refracted) as they pass through the cornea and the lens. The light is then focused on the retina. The retina converts the light-rays into messages that are sent through the optic nerve to the brain. The brain interprets these messages into the images we see.

How does astigmatism occur?

Astigmatism occurs when light is bent differently depending on where it strikes the cornea and passes through the eyeball. The cornea of a normal eye is curved like a basketball, with the same degree of roundness in all areas. An eye with astigmatism has a cornea that is curved more like a football/rugby ball shape (see diagram), with some areas that are steeper or more rounded than others. This can cause images to appear blurry and stretched out.

Who is at risk for astigmatism?

Astigmatism can affect both children and adults. Some patients with slight

astigmatism will not notice much change in their vision. It is important to have eye examinations at regular intervals in order to detect any astigmatism early on for children.

What are the signs and symptoms of astigmatism?

Signs and symptoms include:

•  Headaches
• Eyestrain
• Squinting
• Distorted or blurred vision at all distances
• Difficulty driving at night

If you experience any of these symptoms, visit your eye care professional. If you wear glasses or contact lenses and still have these issues, a new prescription might be needed.

 How is astigmatism diagnosed?

Astigmatism is usually found during a comprehensive dilated eye exam. Being aware of any changes in your vision is important. It can help in detecting any common vision problems. If you notice any changes in your vision, visit your eye care professional for a comprehensive eye dilated examination.

Can you have astigmatism and not know it?

It is possible to have mild astigmatism and not know about it. This is especially true for children, who are not aware of their vision being other than normal. Some adults may also have mild astigmatism without any symptoms. It’s important to have comprehensive dilated eye exams to make sure you are seeing your best.

Leo Franken

Licensed Optician – Spectacle Shoppe

Children are most at risk. I would strongly recommend that anyone under 20 years of age wear sunglasses and a hat when outside- actually I would recommend that everyone does but especially small children. After the age of 20 our crystalline lens has hardened and we have some built in protection from the harmful UV rays. This hardening is gradual so the younger the child the more important it is to protect their eyes. The long term effects of this protection could help prevent cataracts. Some of the other conditions that can be minimized with proper sun protect include: pterygium, macular degeneration, photokeratitis, pingueula, and tumors of the eyelids. These conditions can develop at any age.

What should I look for to make sure I’m getting the best protection? Buy from a reputable source. Ask if you are getting 100% UVA and UVB protection. Consider getting polarized lenses if you drive a lot or spend time on the water or snow. Polarization is a process applied to lenses that blocks glare (from cars, snow or water).

What should you look for in a good pair of sunglasses? Full coverage, a really good pair will limit the amount of light coming in from all angles not just the front. 100% UV protection there isn’t much point in getting sunglasses that still transmit that harmful radiation into your eyes. You may want to consider spending the extra money to get polarized lenses. For those with higher light sensitivity it may be worth having a quality anti-reflection coating or mirror coating to reduce internal reflections within the lens. My personal favorite sunglasses are Maui Jim’s they provide amazing coverage, protection, anti-reflection coating, optics and the polarization allows me to spend time on or near the water (my favorite feature of living on the West Coast) without experiencing any interference with my vision.

Morgan Hyde

Licensed Optician – Spectacle Shoppe