Frame Design And Prescription Lenses: What You Should Know

Updated on November 19, 2020

Prescription lenses can be paired with a near-endless variety of frame designs, although not all frames are suitable. When selecting the most appropriate frame styles for your prescription lenses, you will need to factor in more than current fashion trends. Rewind 50 years and thick plastic glasses were all the rage. 

Even though classic frame trends such as retro wingtips and thin round frames are still setting the pace in fashionable glasses, these seemingly trendy glasses may not compliment your prescription lenses. To ensure you are getting the most out of your prescription, you should consider the following tips when selecting frames. 

Your Face Structure

When choosing frames that will compliment your prescription lenses, a significant factor is your face structure. For wearers with higher cheekbones and a low-bridge nose, low bridge glasses frames are best. Your face structure will impact your specs’ comfort while also affecting how well your lenses enable you to see. 

Square face shapes should avoid round lenses as thin rectangle shapes will be far more complementary to your facial structure. Furthermore, oval, round, and heart-shaped facial structures should avoid narrow rectangle frames as they may clash with your facial features and distort your appearance significantly. Before settling on a frame design, you should consider your face shape.

Single Vision: Near-Sighted Lenses

If you are near-sighted, your prescription lenses will aim to improve your ability to focus in the distance. Your lenses will likely be thinner at the middle point and thicker at the outer edges, enabling sharper distance vision. 

Thick plastic frames are not ideal for near-sighted prescription lenses, as the thick lenses will blatantly peek out at the edges of the frames. As a result, shorter frames that are also narrower will be best. At the same time, chunky frame designs such as the iconic retro wingtips and oversized rectangle designs will amplify the notability of the thicker lens edges. The solution is to opt for smaller, more delicate designs. 

High Positive Power: Far-Sighted Lenses

Far-sighted lenses intend to correct vision in individuals who are unable to focus close-up. As a result, these prescription lenses are thinner at the outer edges and thicker at the middle point. These lenses’ dynamic can give off a bug-eyed appearance, especially if the chosen frames are not suitable. 

Because these lenses will magnify your eyes and diminish your face’s outer appearance, you should avoid large frame designs as the effect will be notably amplified. Shorter and narrower frames will be best to prevent bug eyes, and you will also be getting the most out of your prescription. Rimless and semi-rimless frames are discouraged, while thicker frame borders are also not entirely suitable. Thinner frames are best in terms of vision and your appearance. 

Multifocal And Progressive Lenses

If you have more than two prescriptions in one lens, you will need to be sure that each element of the lens has enough leeway. More often than not, more extensive and taller frames are best as they provide maximum vision. The two main frame styles you will want to avoid are cat-eye frame designs and aviator frame designs. 

The reason you should avoid these two designs is quite simple; they will cut off your vision at the bottom portion of your lenses and result in reading vision difficulties. Unless you are willing to purchase an entirely new set of reading glasses, you should opt for shorter frames with rounded edges. Retro wingtips, horn-rimmed, and oval frame styles are perfectly ideal for multifocal and progressive prescription lenses. 

Caring For Your Eyesight With Suitable Prescription Lenses

Cheap plastic frames and standard lenses are often not suitable for anyone. Regardless of the specifics of your prescription needs, it is not recommended to purchase standard ready-made lenses as they can aggravate your eyesight deterioration for a multitude of reasons. As a result, your lenses should be specially crafted to complement your eyesight needs. While having prescription lenses made for you is highly recommended, you should also be sure to visit your optometrist at least twice each year to evaluate any changes your lenses may need. 

Eye-specialist checkups are essential because eyesight can gradually deteriorate naturally over the years. By neglecting optometrist checkups, you may find that your prescription lenses are no longer correcting your sight after some time. Other efforts that are crucial for your eyes’ health include vision exercises that will assist in strengthening your vision significantly. While there are several informative vision exercise guides readily available online, it is best to consult a specialist to recommend suitable exercises.

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The Editorial Team at Healthcare Business Today is made up of skilled healthcare writers and experts, led by our managing editor, Daniel Casciato, who has over 25 years of experience in healthcare writing. Since 1998, we have produced compelling and informative content for numerous publications, establishing ourselves as a trusted resource for health and wellness information. We offer readers access to fresh health, medicine, science, and technology developments and the latest in patient news, emphasizing how these developments affect our lives.