Breaking in new glasses is a normal phase where your face adapts to the physical frames and your brain adjusts to the new visual input. This transition allows the frame materials to conform to your facial structure while your perception processes the altered light path through the lenses. Understanding this physical and neurological process helps set a practical expectation for a comfortable fit.
Managing Initial Comfort Expectations
An adjustment period is normal when wearing new glasses, especially if your prescription has changed significantly. This physical and visual adjustment typically lasts between a few days and two weeks. During this time, you may experience a slight awareness of the frames resting on your nose and behind your ears. Minor, temporary symptoms like eye strain or headaches are common as your visual system adapts to the new prescription. Consistent wear helps your eyes and brain learn to work with the new optics, gradually reducing these temporary side effects.
Identifying the Source of Discomfort
Discomfort originates from pressure points where the frame contacts the skin, and identifying the location is the first step toward a solution. If your glasses are constantly sliding down or leaving distinct red marks, the issue lies with the fit across the bridge of your nose. Sliding suggests the bridge is too wide or the nose pads are spaced too far apart. Deep indentations indicate the frame is resting too heavily or too narrowly on the nasal bone.
Pressure or friction that feels like digging can be traced to the temple arms, which extend over your ears. If the ends curve too tightly, they create focused pressure behind the ears, leading to localized soreness. Conversely, if the temple arms are too loose, they fail to anchor the frame securely, causing the glasses to slip down your face. Pressure on the sides of your head, near your temples, is a symptom of the frame width being too narrow for your head shape.
Performing Safe Minor Adjustments
For frames with small, flexible silicone nose pads, you can make a gentle adjustment to manage pressure and slippage. If the glasses are sliding down, gently pinch the nose pads closer together to narrow the fit on the bridge. If the frames are pinching and leaving marks, slowly spread the pads apart to distribute the weight over a wider surface area.
Plastic or acetate frames require heat to safely manipulate the material, as they are not pliable when cold. To adjust the temple tips for a better curve behind the ear, hold the arm under warm running water for about 30 seconds to make the plastic malleable. Once warmed, carefully bend the temple tip slightly inward to tighten the grip or outward to loosen it.
Avoid using boiling water or applying direct, prolonged heat, as this can damage the lens coatings or crack the frame material. Always make adjustments incrementally and check the fit immediately after each slight alteration. Metal frames are significantly less forgiving and are much more prone to snapping if bent incorrectly, so adjustments to any metal component should generally be left to a professional optician.
Knowing When to Seek Professional Fitting
While minor adjustments can be performed at home, significant or persistent fit issues require professional tools and expertise. If the frame sits crookedly or you experience persistent pain after one week of consistent wear, a professional fitting is necessary. Opticians possess specific heating equipment and specialized pliers designed to manipulate frames without causing damage. Return to the retailer immediately if any self-adjustment makes the problem worse, such as causing a hinge to loosen or a frame to warp. For all metal frames or complex adjustments to the frame front, an optician’s intervention is the safest course of action.