If you wondered how to find your glasses size, you’ve just landed in the right place. Knowing your sunglasses’ size is essential for the right fit can brighten your day, but when the shades are too small or too big, they won’t be able to offer their intended benefits. On the other hand, sunglasses that fit well are comfortable to wear, easy to see through, and won’t slip or fall off.
There are four aspects of measuring your face for sunglasses; face length, forehead width, jawline length, and cheekbone length. If you’re unsure about the shape of your face, compare its length and width to find if you’re an oval, round, rectangle, or square-shaped face.
Apart from protecting your eyes from harmful UV rays and glare, sunglasses are a fashion statement that helps highpoint your facial features—equipping you with great confidence. So naturally, the shape of your face plays a significant role when buying the perfect pair.
How to Measure Your Face for Sunglasses
Here’s how to measure your face for sunglasses:
Measure Your Face from Cheekbone to Cheekbone
Using a measuring ruler or tape, measure the distance between your right temples and left. Place the tape measure (on Amazon) at the top of your right cheekbone and run it to the same point on the left side of your face. Note the number.
Measure Your Jawline
Place the end of your tape measure just below your right ear, at a point where the jawbone starts. Next, measure from your right jawbone to the left around the bottom side of your face. Note down this as well. This measurement informs the shape of your face.
Measure Your Face length
Begin at the start of your hairline down to the bottom of your chin. Note the number. This will help you find the best lens height for your face.
Measure Forehead Width
Measure your forehead’s width from the right side of your hairline to the left. Note this number. The results will help you determine the best frame width.
Use These Four Measurements
Use the above measurements to decide which frames are best for your face. Your eyewear should balance the shape and size of your face.
Alternative Methods
- If you’re not a first-time purchaser, you can check your eyewear’s nose bridge or inside of the temple arm to find its frame size.
- If no frame size information is printed on your eyewear, you can use a tape measure to determine the size frame, temple arms, and lens.
Determining Your Face Shape
If you’re unsure about the shape of your face, compare length and width by following these steps:
- Measure from the right side of your face to the left. Note down the findings.
- Measure from the tip of your chin to the center of your hairline. Note down the findings.
If your face is:
- Longer than it is broad, you may have an oval-shaped face
- Wider than it is long, you may have a heart or round-shaped face
- Twice as long as the width, you could have a rectangle-shaped face
- As long as it is wide, you may have a square or diamond-shaped face
What are the Most Common Shapes of Sunglasses?
Here’s a list of the most common shapes of sunglasses:
Round Sunglasses
Round sunglasses feature unique frames offering bold fashion statements. They are different from the usual rectangular or oval-shaped sunglasses commonly worn by both genders.
These sunglasses offer a vintage feel. They were popularized by celebrities such as John Lennon and Jackie Kennedy. If you’re concerned with the safety of your eyes, choose a pair of round sunglass (on Amazon) of larger diameter.
Oval Sunglasses
Similar to round-style sunglasses, oval sunglasses feature a slightly flattened shape. They’re wide, extending further to offer better protection to your eyes.
These sunglasses are popular since they fit a lot of face shapes. Depending on your facial features, you can choose a pair of these glasses based on your lenses’ size.
Square Sunglasses
Although the frames of square-shaped sunglasses (on Amazon) don’t look completely square, these glasses are popular.
The shape of the framed lens is usually square at the top, and the bottom part looks round, giving a unique look to these shades than if they were to come with a rigid squared design. Instead, squared sunglasses feature a similar shape to the aviator style, and they are sometimes referred to as aviator sunglasses.
Rectangle Sunglasses
Like a squared type, rectangle sunglasses cover the eyes better. Featuring different styles, some rectangular sunglasses are skinny. You’ll also find some styles that completely cover your eyes and brows. Moreover, these sunglasses can be designed with different prints and materials.
Aviator Sunglasses
With dark, sometimes reflective lenses and thin metal frames, aviators are a fashion statement. In addition, their lenses are large enough to cover your eyes fully.
Some aviator sunglasses feature double bridges to boost their strength since the rest of their frame is quite flexible. In addition, they offer ample protection against sunlight, especially if your lenses have UVA and UVB protection. Finally, aviators are a perfect fit with temples that hook behind the ears.
Heart Sunglasses
Heart-shaped sunglasses are typically worn as a fashion statement. However, they can still block glare and offer protection against UV if they feature quality lenses.
The fit and size of its lenses will determine how much protection it can offer. One thing is sure, heart sunglasses (on Amazon) are a stylish accessory.
Wrap Around Sunglasses
Enjoy protection against glare and sunlight with wrap-around sunglasses. With a partially circular frame shape, these sunglasses wrap around the sides of your head. These sunglasses are designed to protect your entire eye area, even from a peripheral standpoint.
Cat-Eye Sunglasses
Cat-eye sunglasses are a unique fashion piece worn by women. They come with flared edges on their frames’ sides to offer a bolder statement.
Club Master Sunglasses
Club masters are a bold fashion flashback that has begun to gain popularity again in the past decade. They feature a thick metal or plastic piece over their top frame.
On their lower-level frames, club masters (on Amazon) feature a thin metal that offers protection to the lenses. However, this portion of the lens could be more noticeable.
Photochromic Sunglasses
Also known as transition lenses, these sunglasses will cleverly turn dark when exposed to UV light. The dark version paves the way for a transparent state in low-light conditions. As a result, you can move outdoors and indoors without changing your prescription eyewear to sunglasses.
How to Tell if Your Sunglasses Are Too Small
If sunglasses are too small, you’re likely to experience the following:
Imprints After Wear
Nose markings left from your eyewear indicate that your glasses are too small. In addition, the imprints on your nose bridge show the frames are unbalanced due to size issues. When the sunglasses are too small, they fail to distribute weight evenly between your nose and ears, leading to eye strain.
Constant Headaches
You’re likely to experience constant headaches when your eyewear has tight frames. In addition, your eyewear arms might add pressure behind your ears or pinch your temples.
The right pair of eyewear should fit comfortably without squeezing your head. Headaches are primarily associated with vision problems, but you never want to exaggerate this struggle with too-small eyewear.
How to Tell if Your Sunglasses are Too Big
Here are the signs:
Frames are Slipping Off
There’s no reason your eyewear should be sliding down your nose during regular daily activity. If this happens, it means your glasses are too big. Of course, your eyewear should easily slip down your nose when you slide it intentionally, but unexpected slippage isn’t supposed to occur.
You’re Still Squinting
If you’re still squinting after getting new glasses, it might be because your lenses are too far from your eyes. Proper-sized eyewear ensures your lenses’ focal window sits at the proper distance from your eyes’ pupil. When your lenses are too far from your eyes, it makes your vision blurry resulting in squinting.