Frame Size and Reading Glasses

The Ideal Size
I wore folding reading glasses before they became popular, when peering over the top of the frame made me appear stern, disassociated, and perhaps a little like the Family Affair Mrs. Beasley doll distributed by Mattel in the mid '60s. Well, reading glasses fashion has finally caught up with me, and the trendiest people are adding designer reading glasses to their accessory wardrobe. But what is too big or too small when it comes to reading glass frames? Generally, you want a generous reading area with a reading glass frame that has a depth, measured from the top to the bottom of the frame, of at least 28 mm.

For casual wearers of plastic reading glasses, or those who spend uninterrupted hours reading and doing close-up detailed work, single-vision readers are a preferred choice, (now that peering out over the rims has become more acceptable). There was a time when bifocal lenses were placed into large, uninspiring, and not-so-fashionable frames. But now bifocal reading glasses are the preferred choice for those who wear their reading glasses all day. And with narrow frames in style, bifocal reading glasses are available in sizes just slightly larger than single-vision reading glasses.

Peepers Stars of Orion Reading Glasses

At the Edge of Reason
When selecting a reading glass frame, the shape of the frame should contrast with the shape of the face, and the size of the reading glass frame should be appropriate for the size of the face. For an exact fit, eye size, as well as bridge and temple measurements, are considered. Small frames look lost on a broad face, whereas frames that overextend the boundaries of the face border on comical and look out of place.

The trend is toward narrow frames, but for those switching gears by moving their concentration from desk to computer throughout the day, this might involve more movement from your head, rather than your eyes. Without realizing it, you might be looking over or under your glasses more than necessary, and this could cause eyestrain. To eliminate fatigue, a slightly deeper frame might be necessary.