How to choose your glasses - The Lesley Arlkin Optometrist guide to finding the right pair for you.

So you need glasses? Congratulations! Now you need to get the pair that, you will not only look good in and feel comfortable with, but will also hold your lenses so that you can see clearly.

Glasses are very much a modern fashion item and it may take a little time to find the best pair for you. Don't rush it. Make sure you get it right.

Think about choosing your glasses in the same way you would buy some new clothes or jewellery. You wouldn't buy the first dress or suit you tried on, and the same is true for glasses.

Get rid of any pre-conceived ideas about the frame style you want beforehand. Then try on as many frames as you can. You may find a shape that you'd never dreamed of works well for you.

If you don't know where to start, here are a few ideas:

When deciding on the colour of your frame, concentrate on how the frame looks with your skin tone, and don't get influenced by the colour of your hair.

The size and shape of frame can greatly influence the appearance of your lenses, so before setting your heart on a particular style, ask for guidance from our optician about how the lenses will look.

If your hair is beginning to recede you may need a different shape or colour to the type that looked good previously.

Remember that as you get older your skin tends to lighten and a dark frame that looked great ten years ago may look too harsh now.

Frames must feel right

As well as looking good, the frames must feel right too. Even the most stylish effect can be ruined if the fit is wrong or you feel uncomfortable in them. Our opticians will check that the bridge (the piece that supports the frame on your nose) is correct for both comfort and for holding the lenses, so that you're looking through the correct part of the lens.

The optician will also check that the width is correct for you, and that the sides can be adjusted correctly so that they are not too loose and slip, or too tight and rub behind your ears.

Frames are a very personal choice, but with our opticians' professional help, you'll soon find the right pair!

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