Eyeglasses are more than just a necessary tool for seeing clearly. Today, eyeglasses are also a fashion accessory that can make a statement about your unique personality and style.
Frames bring together all the parts of eyeglasses into a beautiful marriage of form and function. They enclose the lenses and can be thick or thin, colorful or monochrome. The rims, which give the frames shape and character, may be made of metal or plastic. The end pieces and temples sit between the rims and connect them to each other with hinges. The bridge, which rests on your nose, joins the rims together and supports the weight of the lenses.
The Best Prescription Eyeglasses for Everyday Use
Lenses are clear pieces of glass or plastic crafted and shaped with your unique prescription to help you see clearly. They bend light beams entering the eyes so they focus on your retina at the right distance, a process called refractive error correction. Lenses can be concave (curve inward) to help you see nearsightedly or convex (curve outward) to aid farsightedness. Cylindrical lenses are often used to correct astigmatism, a condition in which the cornea and lens have irregular curves.
Glasses are inexpensive and widely available. They are typically covered by vision insurance. Your eye care specialist can suggest frames and lens options that suit your personal style, face shape and budget. You should call your eye care specialist if you experience fit-related discomfort anywhere the glasses touch your head or face — especially the ears and nose.