For years, I ignored the numbers printed inside my glasses frames. I thought they were just manufacturing codes. Learning to read an eyeglass frame size chart transformed how I shop for glasses and eliminated years of sizing frustration.
One day, while cleaning my glasses, I noticed tiny numbers printed on the inside of the temple: 52-18-140. I had no idea what they meant, so I searched online and discovered I'd been ignoring crucial sizing information.
These numbers represent:
This simple code contains everything needed to find properly fitting frames.
I used to shop for glasses by trying on random pairs until something felt okay. This approach led to:
I didn't realize that understanding these numbers would solve all these problems.
Once I understood the basics, I researched what each measurement actually affects:
Lens Width (first number): This is the horizontal width of one lens. It's the most important number for overall fit. Too wide and frames overwhelm your face. Too narrow and they look disproportionate.
Bridge Width (second number): The distance between the lenses. This determines how frames sit on your nose. Wrong bridge width causes sliding or pinching.
Temple Length (third number): How long the arms are. Too short creates pressure behind ears. Too long and frames sit too far forward.
I measured my best-fitting glasses and found they were 50-17-140. Then I measured several uncomfortable pairs:
This exercise showed me exactly why some glasses worked and others didn't.
I learned to measure my face to know what sizes to look for:
For lens width: Measure from the center of your nose to your temple. This gives you the maximum lens width that will work. Mine is 52mm, so I look for 48-52mm lenses.
For bridge width: Measure across your nose where glasses sit. Mine is 17mm, so I need 16-18mm bridges.
For temple length: Measure from your temple to behind your ear. Mine is about 140mm.
Something I learned from online communities: you can calculate total frame width by adding lens width + bridge width + lens width.
For my 50-17-140 glasses: 50 + 17 + 50 = 117mm total width.
This total should match or be slightly less than your face width. For more information regarding Mozaer Sunglasses take a look at the web site. My face is 120mm wide, so 117mm frames fit perfectly.
Reading glasses forums, I found others who'd had the same revelation about frame sizing:
One person shared that they'd been buying 54mm frames for years when they actually needed 48mm. Once they sized down, their chronic headaches disappeared.
Another user mentioned keeping a note in their phone with their ideal measurements. This way, they can quickly check if frames will fit before even trying them on.
Understanding these numbers made online shopping much easier. I can now:
I went from avoiding online glasses shopping to preferring it because I can search by size.
I learned that you don't need exact matches. There's a tolerance range:
So if my ideal is 50-17-140, I can comfortably wear 48-16-135 or 52-18-145.
Some situations require adjusting from your standard size:
Reading glasses: I go slightly smaller (48mm instead of 50mm) because I hold reading material closer.
Sunglasses: I can go slightly larger (52mm) because the bold look works for sunglasses.
Progressive lenses: I need taller frames, so I focus on lens height in addition to width.
Now when I shop for glasses, I:
Understanding eyeglass frame size charts changed everything. I went from buying glasses that "seemed okay" to buying glasses that actually fit properly.
I no longer need constant adjustments. My glasses stay in place all day. And I can shop online with confidence, knowing exactly what size I need.
If you've been ignoring those numbers inside your glasses, take a moment to write them down. They're the key to finding frames that truly fit. Once you understand your ideal measurements, glasses shopping becomes logical instead of frustrating.