The cosmetic approach to selection of frames

Frames are designed to balance your face shape and predominant features. Wisely chosen, spectacles can flatter your looks and emphasise good points to accentuate your personality.

Generally speaking, the top line of the frames should always complement the natural eye-line and follow the curve of the eyebrows.

If there is a conflict between the spectacle frame and the eyebrows, it gives an unbalanced clumsy look and should be avoided.

Choosing the right eyeglass frame for your face shape

(a) A round face: looks slimmer if spectacle frames are oval or rectangular, more so if they are hinged high at the side. A round frame is contra-indicated.

(b) A long face: choose a strongly coloured frame with a greater emphasis on the horizontal plane. The frame should be such that the upper and lower rims of the frame should be equally visible. This tends to break down the length of the face and give symmetry.

(c) A square face: a frame with deep rounded or oval characteristics will make the face appear oval. If the jawline is heavy and square, the top of the frame should be more emphatic and the lower rims should be curved. A square frame would be the worst possible selection.

(d) A heart shaped faced: wider at the temples and narrowing down towards the jawline. The frame should have its hinge in the middle or low down. The upper rim should round down, joining with the lower rim; frames in which the lower rim tapers up are not appropriate.

(e) A face with close set eyes: select a two-tone frame which-is lighter at the bridge and darker-toned at the sides which will give an illusion of width. A frame with hinge decoration also helps.

Selection of frames for bifocals or trifocals

It is essential to remember that the frame selected should have adequate space for the two (bifocal) or three (trifocal) lenses.

A small shallow frame is obviously inadequate as it will cramp up the optics leading to insufficiently sized distance and near areas.

Do remember that the eyes are going to turn in slightly when we read, and a patient whose eyes are close set, should select a frame which is thin as possible near the nose to prevent interference with his reading vision.

Too large a frame is a serious mistake as the opticians will not be able to optically set them to match the centre of your eyes, leading to distorted vision with headache. The opticians may in an endeavour to please you select large glasses which will however, increase aberrations in vision which you will find unacceptable.

Dustin Flores

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