How to Pick the Perfect Pair of Glasses, According to Your Face Shape

In the market for a pair of eyeglasses? Before you get overwhelmed by the zillions of options, take into consideration one important element: your face shape. “Finding the perfect pair of glasses for your face shape is all about balancing proportions,” says Tim Chan, founder and editor of Corduroy Magazine, and co-founder of the eyewear blog, The Spectacled. 

But choosing the right frame is about more than just style. The wrong frame can impact the effectiveness of your prescription. “It is important to consider face shape as the rest points of glasses need to seat properly or they can create slippage and discomfort,” explains David Shapiro, M.D., an ophthalmologist and one of the nation’s top refractive surgeons for LASIK.

“The lenses of glasses have ‘sweet spots’ called optical centers that need to line up exactly over the center of the pupil. If glasses are slipping, not only is this a nuisance, but it can affect vision by decentering the lenses over the eyes.” This becomes even more important the higher your prescription is, says Shapiro. Here are a few tips and tricks to ensure your face shape and your glasses play nice together.