Understanding Eyewear Frame Sizes: A Complete Guide

How to Read Frame Size Numbers

Most quality eyewear frames have three key measurements printed on the inside of the temple arm:

• Lens Width (e.g., 52mm): The horizontal width of each lens
• Bridge Width (e.g., 18mm): The distance between lenses (across your nose)
• Temple Length (e.g., 140mm): The length of each arm that extends to your ear

You'll often see these three numbers displayed as: 52-18-140

Additional Measurements

• Frame Width: The entire horizontal width of the frame
• Lens Height: The vertical height of the lenses

Finding Your Frame Size

To determine the ideal frame size for your face:

Method 1: Check Your Current Glasses

If you currently wear glasses that fit well, check the measurements printed on the inside of the temple. These numbers will be your reference point.

Method 2: Measure Your Face

1. Measure the width of your face at the temples
2. Measure your pupillary distance (PD) - the distance between the centers of your pupils
3. As a general rule, your frames should be proportional to your face width

Size Recommendations

Face Width	Recommended Frame Width	Typical Lens Width
Narrow (less than 130mm)	125-129mm	46-49mm
Medium (130-139mm)	130-134mm	49-53mm
Wide (140mm+)	135mm+	54-58mm

Signs Your Frames Don't Fit

• Temples too tight: Headaches, pressure behind ears
• Temples too loose: Glasses slide down nose
• Bridge too wide: Glasses slide down nose
• Bridge too narrow: Pinching, red marks on nose
• Frame too wide: Temples extend past ears
• Frame too narrow: Peripheral vision blocked, squeezing at temples

Special Size Considerations

Keep in mind these additional factors when choosing frames:

• Progressive lenses: Require adequate lens height (at least 28-30mm)
• High prescriptions: Smaller lenses minimize thickness
• Children's frames: Need more frequent adjustment as children grow

At Affordables, we provide detailed frame measurements for all our eyewear. If you need assistance finding your perfect fit, our virtual try-on tool or customer service team can help guide you.