Eyeglasses come in all different types of sizes, styles, and colors. We are often on decision-overload when starting over to choose a new pair due to the overwhelming selection available! On top of personal style, size, and color and fashion preferences, there are also several different types of materials we can choose from. While fashion and of course personal size needs both dictate a large part of our decision-making process, lens style, and material are often determined highly by the prescription needs of the user. Take advantage of this helpful guide to when deciding what type of glasses frames you want..and need!
When discussing the idea of glasses frames styles, you could be referring to several different aspects of the frames themselves. These descriptions could mean the shape of the lenses, such as wayfarer, round, rectangular, or oval; the shaping of the frame around the lenses, like rimless, semi-rimless, or fully framed; or, it could be referring to the current trending styles (i.e. the overall look of the entire frame). This guide will be mostly discussing the shaping around the lenses (i.e. rimless, semi-rimless, or full framed), as it can affect the weight, structure, and design of the glasses. Likewise, this guide will go over the different materials most often chosen to make eyeglasses frames; and how they affect your viewing pleasure.
The style of your glasses frame can significantly be affected depending on your exact need for your prescription eyeglasses. While this is certainly not always the case, it can play a major role in your decision-making process because different frame styles [literally] carry different weights. For instance, if you are looking for a pair of reading glasses, it is probably best to look around at the rimless frames. Rimless glasses are usually the most lightweight of the different frame styles, and reading glasses are usually only used for a short, but intense period. Therefore, if you incur a heavier frame, you could be more prone to headaches and other forms of discomfort. Additionally, the actual material that the frame is made out of can also make a difference. Likewise, if you choose titanium, metal frames versus a thick, high-grade plastic frame, you are likely choosing them for their durability, often flexibility, and because they are very lightweight; these are all important features particularly for reading glasses.
Frame material and style doesn’t always have to be affected by your eyeglasses prescription or vision-correction needs. For instance, when wearing regular distance eyeglasses, you could easily wear any material in any style offered without any problems. Of course, you could nearly always do this; however, for some types of glasses (like reading glasses or computer glasses, for instance), it is often best to choose a lighter weighted frame for some added comfort.