There are so many different supposedly-scientific ways of finding your face shape by using measurements, sketches, or other methods. And within this, an endless list of options. Basically, there are four main frame shapes: Rectangular, oval, round, or cat-eye. There’s a lot of guidance out there on how to determine your face shape and, therefore, your theoretical ideal eyeglass frame shape. Just another way we petites end up paying more for everything. My current frames are 30mm tall, which makes them pretty close to the smallest possible size for my progressive lenses, and has led me to need to invest in more expensive premium lenses to compensate for the smaller size. Typically, the minimum frame height for progressive lenses is 28mm. This is especially important for those of us over 40 who need progressive lenses. Lenses that are the right width, but too tall in vertical, will sit uncomfortably on your cheekbones and will look awkward on your face.Ĭonversely, lenses that are too narrow might restrict vision.
But it can be critical in terms of getting the right fit, especially for petites. The “B” measurement, or lens height, is often not given on the inside of the frame, so it might be a bit tricky to find. That means you’ll see a ton of 52mm frames (the most popular women’s size), but almost nothing in a 47 or 48 (my size). They’ll tend to focus on the most popular sizes, which fit the widest range of faces. Most retailers operate on volume and can only afford to carry so much inventory. That means that the demand for petite frames makes up less than 5% of the eyewear industry’s total sales. An even smaller or negligible proportion of men do, too. You’ve heard this theme before on my blog, and it’s the same story here: It’s a numbers game.Īn estimated ten percent of women need petite or extra-narrow glasses. Typically, this translates into a lens size of 45-49mm, depending on the shape of the frame. If your total horizontal measurement (2x eye size + bridge) totals less than 115mm, your face is considered “petite” or “extra narrow”, and shopping for glasses can be a real challenge. For instance, my current glasses have an eye size of 48mm each, and a bridge width of 15mm, which adds up to 111mm. You can easily calculate that for your favourite pair of frames by doubling the eye size and adding the bridge width. What you really need to know is the total width of your face that you need, from temple to temple, represented by the number 1 on the diagram below: Rectangular or cat-eye frames could be the opposite, with wider eye size. Round frames may have a narrower eye size, but a wider bridge to compensate. However, since different shapes of lenses will have different ratios, just knowing your lens width isn’t enough.
Eye sizes under 46mm are generally kids’ or junior sizes. 55mm and above are generally “large” widths and are more commonly found in men’s eyeglasses. So in total, there are four relevant measurements: Eye, Bridge, Temple, and Height.įrames with a lens width or eye size of under about 49mm are considered to be “small” or “narrow”, while 49-54mm are usually “medium” and are the most commonly found eye size. Many glasses also include a measurement called “B”, which is the vertical height of the frame. For instance, this pair measures 55-15-140, which refers to an eye width of 55mm per frame, a bridge width (the nose piece joining each eye) of 15mm, and a temple length of 140mm. Most glasses have measurements with 3 components to them. What size eyeglass frames do you need? It’s about more than just the width of the frame. If you have a small face and struggle to find glasses to fit, read on. Which means that every time I need new frames, I have an immense shopping challenge ahead. They might be the most important piece of clothing most of us buy. Most of the world’s glasses are made for people with average-sized faces.īut glasses are part of us the first thing most people see. For us petites, especially those of us with small or narrow faces, finding a pair of eyeglass frames to fit can be a big challenge. Like two thirds of adults, I wear glasses.