Online glasses shopping offers convenience and affordability, but achieving a perfect fit often falls to the wearer. A proper fit is directly linked to visual accuracy, ensuring the lenses sit correctly to align with your pupils. Since minor manufacturing variations or shipping shifts are common, a small adjustment is frequently necessary. Adjusting the fit avoids issues like sliding frames or pressure points that can lead to headaches and visual discomfort, significantly improving the function and feel of your new eyewear.
Essential Preparation Before You Start
Before attempting any modification, assemble a small precision screwdriver, a microfiber cleaning cloth, and either specialized optical pliers or small, smooth-jawed pliers. The frame material dictates the adjustment method; metal frames require gentle force, while plastic (acetate) frames demand caution. Acetate is a thermoplastic material that can crack or snap if bent while cold, so it must be made pliable first.
To safely adjust plastic frames, use a hairdryer on a low or medium setting or run the area under very warm (not boiling) tap water for 30 to 60 seconds. Warm the specific section you intend to manipulate until the material feels slightly flexible, which prevents stress fractures. Always avoid heating the lenses directly, as excessive heat can damage specialized coatings, and never force a frame that resists gentle pressure.
Adjusting Fit Using Nose Pads
The nose pads are the primary mechanism for controlling the vertical position and horizontal stability of glasses. If frames sit too high, push the nose pads gently outward, increasing the distance between them to allow the frame to rest lower on the bridge of the nose. Conversely, if the glasses are sitting too low and sliding, carefully push the pads inward to decrease the space, which raises the frame.
Always manipulate the pad arm—the small metal piece holding the pad—rather than the pad itself. Use your thumb and forefinger or specialized nose pad pliers to make extremely small, incremental changes, as even minor adjustments can drastically alter the fit. If the glasses are tilted or uneven, correct the horizontal alignment by adjusting one pad slightly more than the other until the frame sits level. Ensuring the pads are evenly spaced and positioned flat against your nose prevents painful pressure points.
Tailoring the Temple Arms
The temple arms extend over and behind the ears, securing the glasses laterally and preventing them from slipping forward. If your glasses slide down your nose, increase the curve at the temple tip, the section that hooks behind the ear. For plastic frames, warm the temple tips as described previously, then gently bend the tip further downward and inward to create a tighter grip behind the mastoid bone.
If the glasses feel too tight, causing pinching at the sides of your head, the temple arms need to be widened slightly to reduce lateral pressure. Gently bend the arms outward, either at the hinge or along the mid-arm section, after warming plastic frames. For metal frames, a gentle outward push is usually sufficient, but ensure the adjustment is symmetrical to maintain the frame’s balance. A crooked frame can often be fixed by gently bending the arm of the higher side downward, or the arm of the lower side upward, typically at the hinge or the temple curve.
Knowing When to Visit an Optician
While minor adjustments are easily managed at home, there are definitive signs that you should stop and seek professional help from a licensed optician. If you encounter significant resistance when attempting to bend a frame, or if you notice signs of stress, such as whitening or cracking of the plastic material, cease the adjustment immediately to prevent permanent damage. Attempting to force a brittle frame will result in a broken pair of glasses.
Complex frame issues, especially those affecting lens performance, require specialized tools and expertise. An optician can precisely adjust the pantoscopic tilt, which is the vertical angle of the lens relative to the face. This factor is important for multifocal or high-prescription lenses. If, after adjustments, you experience persistent visual distortion, headaches, or ongoing discomfort despite the frame feeling physically secure, consult a professional, as the issue may be related to the lens alignment or the prescription itself.