Parts of Glasses: A Guide to the Anatomy of Glasses

1. Lenses

Lenses refer to the two pieces of glass or plastic mounted in a glasses frame that rest over the eyes. The purpose of a glasses lenses is to help correct vision issues such as myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness) or astigmatism, as well as provide the eyes with protection in the form of safety glasses, sunglasses or blue light glasses. The lenses in a pair of glasses can be a prescription lens which means they have a person’s prescription or power in the lens to help them see clearer, or they can be a plano lens, meaning they have no prescription. Prescription lenses can be single vision lenses meaning there is one prescription over the lens or bifocal lenses which have two prescriptions for near and far vision correction in the one lens. Glasses lenses can also be multifocal or progressive, meaning they have a prescription for near, intermediate and far vision correction all in the one lens. Lenses can also come in different thicknesses, as the higher a person’s prescription the thicker the lenses generally get. Lenses can also have different coatings and protections including a blue light filter, polarised lenses, photochromic lenses or tinted lenses. At Oscar Wylee, we have a range of different lenses including lenses for vision correction, high-index lenses, and lens coatings for sunglasses and blue light protection.

2. Frame

The frame refers to the entire structure of a pair of glasses including the arms, the nose bridge, the temples and the rims. The frame is what surrounds the glasses lenses and keeps them in place. Glasses frames can be made from a range of materials such as acetate, titanium and metal. Frames may be classified by their shape, including round frames, rectangle frames, or cat-eye frames. Frames are also categorised by how much of the lenses is surrounded by the frame. If there is no frame around the lenses, then these glasses are rimless glasses. There are also semi-rimless glasses and full-rimmed frames.

3. Bridge

The bridge, also known as the nose bridge, is the part of an eyeglasses frame that rests on the nose and keeps the glasses on the face . There are several different types of nose bridges for eyeglasses including a saddle bridge and keyhole bridge and low-nose bridge. A saddle nose bridge is designed to sit on top of the nose bridge. A saddle nose bridge follows the contours of the nose and distributes the weight of the frame evenly. A keyhole nose bridge is designed to sit on the sides of the nose and is wider at the top and narrower at the bottom. A low nose bridge frame is designed for people who have a low nose bridge. A low nose bridge frame will be designed to fit slightly lower than saddle or keyhole frames and may have larger nose pads and curved temples. There are also double-bridge glasses frames that feature a bridge across the nose and an additional bridge across the brow for aesthetic purposes. Oscar Wylee carries a range of eyeglasses with differing nose bridges, including saddle, keyhole and low-fit nose bridges, so customers can find a pair of frames to fit their face perfectly.

4. Hinges

Hinges in a glasses frame refer to the curved pieces that connect the temples to the front of the frames and allow the glasses to open and shut. There are different types of hinges that can be used for frames including a barrel hinge and a spring hinge. A spring hinge refers to hinges that have a flexible spring mechanism, allowing for the temples of the glasses to bend beyond the usual 90-degree angle when they open, making them harder to break. A barrel hinge, also known as a screw hinge, refers to hinges that are connected with screws and barrels and are one of the most common eyeglasses hinges.

5. Screws

Screws in a pair of glasses are located within the hinges. The hinges of a frame are what allow the arms or temples of the glasses frame to open and shut. The most common type of screws used for glasses frames are dowel screws and crosshead screws. Eyeglasses screws can be adjusted to help with the fit of the frame.

6. Temples

The temples, also known as the arms, are the part of a glasses frame that sits over the ears and helps keep the glasses on the face . Glasses temples can be a variety of different shapes and lengths.

7. Endpieces

Endpieces are the part of a glasses frame that connect the temples to the lenses and are located at the outer top corner of the rim. Endpieces are generally small pieces of metal or plastic that stick out from the lens rim and help connect the lens to the temples. Endpieces may be coloured or have decorative features.

8. Rim

The rim refers to the part of a glasses frame that surrounds and holds the lens. The rim of a frame can be different shapes including oval, round, rectangular or cat-eye, as well as different colours. The rims of a glasses frame can also be classified by how much there is. Full-rim frames surround the entirety of the lenses. Semi-rimless frames only have a rim around one-half of the lenses, generally the top. There are also rimless frames which have no rim, with the lenses connected directly to the endpieces and nose bridge.

9. Nose Pads

Nose pads are small pieces of material such as silicone or rubber, that sit on either side of the nose and help a pair of glasses stay on the face. Nose pads will not be a part of all glasses and are more often used for glasses with a keyhole nose bridge and low nose bridge glasses. The aim of nose pads is to help glasses fit more securely and comfortably on the face. The types of nose pads for glasses are classified by shape and material used. Nose pads are often made from a clear material such as soft silicone, but can also be made from rubber or plastic. Nose pads can be tear-drop-shaped, d-shaped, oval or rounded.

10. Temple Tips

Temple tips or earpieces, are located at the ends of the temple and help to keep the glasses behind the ear and on the face. Temple tips for glasses can be made from a different material than the rest of a glasses frame such as a plastic or a silicone.

11. Rivets

Rivets in a glasses frame are located on the top outer corner of the glasses frame and are used to help fasten the hinges to the frame. The number of rivets sometimes vary due to the type of hinge being used. Rivets can sometimes be decorative, depending on the design and materials used in a frame.

12. Top Bar

A top bar refers to a bar that is located above the nose bridge on a glasses frame and is attached to the very top of the frame. Top bars are commonly found in aviator-style frames. A top bar is generally for aesthetic purposes and will not hold the weight of a frame as the nose bridge or nose pads will be holding the glasses on the face.

What are the Best Material for Glasses Frames?

The best materials for glasses frames largely depends on the individual and their eyecare needs, but may include acetate, bioacetate, titanium, memory metal and stainless steel. The best materials for glasses frames are listed below.

• Acetate: Acetate is a type of bioplastic and a good material for glasses frames due to its strength, lightweight feel, and hypoallergenic properties.
• Bioacetate: Bioacetate is an ecofriendly material, made primarily from renewable plant matter. Bioacetate is a good material for glasses frames for those who are more eco-conscious.
• Titanium: Titanium is a type of metal, a good choice of material for glasses frames as it is a lightweight, durable and corrosion-resistant material. 
• Memory metal: Memory metal refers to glasses made with shape-memory alloy. Memory metal is a good material for those who want durable glasses frames, as they allow parts of glasses to be bent or twisted lightly, then return back to their original shape.
• Stainless steel: Stainless steel is a type of metal material, good for glasses frames as it is a durable and corrosion resistant material.

What is the Purpose of Glasses?

The purpose of glasses is to help provide vision correction and protect the eyes. Optical glasses will have a prescription or power within the lens to help correct refractive errors including myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness) and astigmatism. Glasses lenses can be single-vision, meaning they have one prescription over the lens, bifocal which is two prescriptions in one lens or multifocal lenses which have three prescriptions within one lens. Glasses can also be non-prescription meaning they hold no prescription or power for vision correction, but can still be useful to help protect the eyes if the lens is coated with a filter, such as a blue light filter, a tint for UV protection, or polarisation for protection against glare. Sunglasses can be both prescription or non-prescription, with those who need vision correction often able to add their prescription to their sunglasses.

Who Wears Glasses?

There are a variety of people who wear glasses, depending on their eye care needs. People may wear prescription glasses, which have a power or prescription over the lens, if they have a refractive error that needs to be corrected. Refractive errors can affect people of most ages. Many people will also wear non-prescription glasses. These are glasses without a prescription to correct vision issues. Non-prescription glasses can include sunglasses, or glasses with a blue light filter.

How Long Does it Take to Make Eyeglasses?

The length of time it takes to make glasses is dependent upon several factors including what part of the glasses are being made, what materials the frames are, as well as the company making the frames, but can take up to a week or more. The process of making lenses involves cutting a lens, grinding, and smoothing it, as well as adding the prescription, coating or film into the lens. Acetate frames will need to be cut from the sheet of coloured acetate, polished and constructed. Metal frames undergo a process of reshaping, polishing and construction.

Which Part of Glasses Often Need Repairs?

The part of glasses that most often need repairs include the temples of the glasses and the lenses. Glasses can be broken if they are not taken care of properly. It is important when handling glasses that you don't leave glasses on the head, hanging from clothes or face down on surfaces as glasses may fall off and break, or lenses may be scratched. Dropping the frames may also lead to broken or bent temples. Damage to the temples of glasses may also affect the hinges of a frame. Plastic glasses may be prone to more breakage such as snapping, whereas metal frames may be bent out of shape. If your glasses need repairs, bring them to your optometrist or the retailer at which they were purchased, so a professional can evaluate any damage and fix them accordingly.

How Often Should You Replace Your Eyeglasses?

Your eyeglasses should be replaced when your prescription is renewed, which should be around every two years, or sooner if you feel your sight has changed. You may also replace eyeglasses if they are broken or you want a new style of frame. It is recommended that people have an eye test every two years, or as otherwise advised by an optometrist. However, frequency of eye tests may also be determined by age, health and underlying conditions such as diabetes, according to the Better Health Channel. Eye tests are an important part of maintaining good eye health and looking after vision as they allow an optometrist to assess the structures of the eye and track if your sight has changed. If your eyes have changed and are in need of a new prescription, then this would be a good time replace glasses frames. You may also wish to replace glasses if they are broken, or if you simply want to refresh your glasses and wear a new style.

How to Choose the Right Frame for Your Face Shape?

The way to pick the right frame for your face shape is to first consider the shape of your face and pick a frame. The different face shapes are round, oval, heart, square, pear and diamond. Heart face shapes have a small chin and wider forehead. First, consider the shape of your face. The shape of your face generally refers to the outline of your face, around the forehead, down the temples and around the chin, as well as the features of your face. If you have a circular outline with well proportioned features, you likely have a round face shape. If your face looks more oblong, you may have an oval face. If your face is oval with shape angles, you may have a diamond face shape. If you have a wider jawline and smaller forehead, you may have a pear face shape. A heart face shape will be characterised by asymmetric dimensions and soft features. The second step is to pick a frame. Once you have determined face shape, you can pick the glasses that best suit that face shape. The best glasses for round and oval faces are rectangle and square, as they provide structure to the curves. The best glasses for heart face shapes are square, cat-eye and oval glasses as they bring depth to the face. The best glasses for square faces are round, oval and browline glasses, as they help bring softness to the face. The best glasses for pear faces are rectangle, oval and cat-eye glasses as they bring balance to this face shape. The best glasses for diamond faces are oval, round and cat-eye glasses as they can help offset the angular look of this face shape.