How To Choose the Right Glasses

So you’ve seen an optometrist, gotten a prescription, and made the decision to purchase a pair of glasses instead of contacts (or both!). And yet, even after all that, arguably the most difficult decision remains to be made: how to navigate the process of choosing between different types of glasses?

As with many important decisions in life, there’s no single right or wrong answer to this question. Ultimately, the right types of glasses for different people will come down to their priorities, preferences, and life circumstances. To make the best decision possible, here are a few things to consider when choosing glasses:

Your Lifestyle

Are you highly active? Do you spend a lot of time reading? Do you plan to wear your glasses all the time, or alternate them with contacts? Taking into account your habits and needs will help you determine what is most important to you in a pair of glasses—style, durability, wide field of vision, or something else entirely. 

Budget

According to one source, the cost of glasses can fall anywhere between $8-600, with the average being somewhere around $195. For some name-brand frames, the price tag can get even higher. Vision insurance can sometimes help cushion that amount. 

The bottom line: depending on how much you’re willing to shell out for your new glasses, it might be worth it to save yourself the temptation and stay away from the Ray-Ban or Versace frames. 

Face Shape

Glasses are an important accessory, and the right pair can add a lot to your appearance (conversely, the wrong pair can do the opposite). In terms of style, one of the most important things to consider when choosing between glasses types is the shape of your face. 

For example, if you’ve got a square face, style experts recommend going with thin, round frames that will provide a nice contrast with the angles of your jawline. For people with round faces, cat-eye or clear frames might be a better choice. Do some research on which type of frames will accentuate and/or contrast your natural features—and don’t forget to try on lots of options to see which you like best!

OneSight is on a mission to help the world see better by bringing affordable vision care to those who need it most. Since 1988, we’ve reached 52+ million people worldwide, including lives served directly as well as people who now have ongoing access to vision care through permanent vision centers. Our strategy is focused on both meeting immediate needs and establishing long-term solutions, and involves a combination of charitable clinics and sustainable vision centers. Contact us for more information about how you can make a difference in ending the vision care crisis, or consider donating to support our work.