Prescription glasses-best style for you??

Ok, if you wear contacts, say so. This is about prescription glasses. I can't wear reading glasses because my eyes are different. Am asking since prescription are expensive and won't get any cheaper. I also fuss over a great range of styles, colours and shapes out there.

I tried progressives but found after 4 wks., it was giving me headaches and eye pain this year. So I had the new set changed to reading glasses. I have a 2nd pair for computer work. So it's a pain to carry 2 sets but that's I can cope with right now.

On left is my computer glasses which I love the style. The right are my new reading glasses. I originally liked the style, but feel slightly clownish.

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I agree- the left hand picture is good- and I don't care for the right hand style on your face.

My glasses frame just broke today and I will be going in to get a new prescription and frames this week. But my face is so small that there is only one brand that seems to fit my face and look attractive.

BTW it took me a month to get used to progressives but then the headaches went away and I have used them ever since with no problem.

I think for a smaller face (I am in that category, too), it is very hard to find cool, but well fitting frames. There is a thread somewhere, a few years back where someone gave me fabulous advice about a brand for small faces. I had to go to a store not so close and didn't end up with that brand, but I did find lots of cool styles for small heads. I had been buying glasses in the tween section for too long.
I wear contacts, with reading glasses over them and I also have 2 pair of progressives, now that I finally have frames that are stylish amd fit me. I've had progressives for 20 years and since i never wore them, except at night, at home I only recently have felt comfortable driving and going outside in them. So, the reading glasses first. I buy mine online from a place called Eye Bobs. They have a size called "pinhead," which is for small heads. The choice is not as wide, but there's enough. They are more than drugstore frames, but less than optometrists' prices. If you know your readers ' scrip, you are set. I've bought several from here. And, I just got a thing from them that said they will put a regular prescription in their frames, too.
The first pair of progressives that I found for smaller heads are Dolce and Gabana. Yes, expensive, but along the lines of your bigger ones, but smaller and all black.Then, about 2 years ago, I found a pair of almost "cat-eye" frames at a local optician store. They have a slight tiger print on the top and are more brownish. I can't tell you how many compliments I get on these. In fact, clients of other therapists often stop me in the waiting room when I have them on, to compliment me. They are from a designer in California.
I agree with NY. Give the progressives a chance, unless your eye doctor has told you they are not for you. I had headaches at first, too, but of course, that was 20 years ago, so I think I did. But, i've been wearing reading glasses over my contacts since I was 38, so I've been doing this a long time.

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Originally Posted by shootingstar

The right are my new reading glasses. I originally liked the style, but feel slightly clownish.

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It looks like you have more of an oval face so oversized glasses will take away from your face’s natural symmetry. the left ones look more appropriate for your face shape. thinking there is info on the net about face shape and the best styles for glasses.
progressives just don't work for some people especially if their eye movement is even slightly different between eyes....sometimes two different pairs is the right answer.

Hmm. I think I have a wider face than oval..right photo distorts my face. I know, because my sisters have lovelier shaped faces.
Prescription glasses aren't cheap...and that ticks me off. I have a employee benefit that discounts by $400.00....for a pr. @ $700.00. Anyway, I realize the following for myself in preferences:

*Only half frame rimmed glasses. When having black brows and nature of my features, I need glasses that "lighten" my features in my face. If you notice, I don't wear ANY eyeliner nor mascara. I haven't for the past 35 yrs. I tried mascara once and my eyes felt so heavy/tired. I don't need to look more academic or more geeky.....I think my personality comes across as more serious and I'm less a "girlie" chick in style....so having "lighter" or funkier glasses is probably better me. That's why I originally bought the right hand reading glasses style. Oh well, I still wear them. I thought even buying deep red/purple frame or even deep indigo blue. Who knows, as one grows older, one gets crazier? :)

*I like a large lens surface to look through. Don't like small surface lenses..

*I also like large lens surface and lighter style frames to enhance naturally dark large eyes. Thank you mother from whom I inherited this set of eyes.

Wearing glasses still hasn't been a 100% habit for me. EVen though I've had glasses for past 3+ years. I frequently forget them at home for work... I didn't need to wear glasses until I was 51 yrs.

Yup, purple, blue, lighter, crazy ones would look great on you!

Some brands that make very stylish frames for smaller faces are: Kliik, Lulu Guinness, and Fysh. My wife has also tried kids frames and some of them work as well.

For me, I've found I enjoy color, so my last pair are a really cool blue.

I'm another who wears contact lenses for distance and reading glasses for up close. I buy the readers at the grocery story, Target, etc. I have a pair at home, one at work, one in my purse, one in the car, a folding pair in my bike bag. I usually get fun colored frames like purple or red.

In the past year or so I've been wearing my prescription glasses for distance more often. This is due to various reasons -- eye allergies in the spring, too lazy to put contacts in, I like wearing the glasses when I ride my bike at night or have a long drive. I take them off to read. Which means I am frequently taking them off at home and putting them down somewhere, then forgetting where I put them. It drives me crazy. Anyway the upshot is that whether I wear contacts or not, I'm always putting glasses on and taking them off all day long. I'm told it's possible to get progressive contacts but I'm worried I'll get headaches from them, or from progressive glasses. Also my distance Rx is pretty stable but the farsightedness is getting worse, and it's cheaper to buy new readers at the grocery store than get a new prescription.

I bought my prescription glasses probably 5-6 years ago, and I remember trying on virtually every pair in the store trying to find something I liked. Because I also like larger lenses to see through -- I hate having a small circle of clear vision with a blurry area around it -- but I think small-medium size frames look better on me. So it was hard to find a size that I liked. Also I tried some colors that I thought would look good but ended up hating them. Eventually I got a pair of Rayban titanium frames that are fairly ordinary rectangles with rounded corners. They're a bit larger than I like, aesthetically, but most of my field of vision is clear which is important. I think technically they were on the side of the store with the men's frames, but they're pretty gender-neutral.

NY, my DH has the progressive contacts with no issues. He has dailies, as he wears his many pairs of glasses often!

I so wish the multi-focal contacts would work for me! I tried several brands back when I was working and had eye insurance, but none of them worked for me.

Did the readers/contacts things for a long time, but it just didn't work for all situations, especially cycling (reading my bike computer) and computer work. Was fine for distance, but even reading wasn't perfect.

I have been wearing progressive glasses for about 10 years now (I'm 55), and I really like them. I have never had a problem adjusting, but my two eyes are very close in Rx, so I am lucky. I still see better close up with no glasses at all, but they are fine for computer work and "lite" reading.

I have had all different styles of frames over the years, most wire-framed, some with full frames, some half, and most recently I've gone to plastic. I got the current ones in Mexico, and with Transitions (turn dark outside), anti-glare, and everything, they only ran about $250. DH got similar ones just a couple of weeks ago here in Florida and paid $360 for similar ones at Walmart, one of the least expensive places for Rx glasses in the US.

I have an oval-shaped face, not tiny but small, and here is the shape I went with (inside and out):

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I don't know if this helps at all, but it's a data point. I agree that colors would be great on you, ShootingStar!

Yea, next time in 2 yrs. or so...coloured frames.

There seems to be way more full rimmed glass styles for Rx glasses. Sigh. I agree with Pax Kliik, Fysh brands look good but those I tried most were small lens surface....and a touch too expensive for me. This glass style selection took me all over the City. I biked around..

Now we have to realize in retirement for me, I would have to pay in full. Drugstore readers don't work for me because of eye differences.
I consulted 3 siblings who have been wearing glasses since their teens and others for my lst pr. hunt. I took completely for granted their eyeglass wear for decades. One sister has funky light pink lining a pair of black rims, etc. She looks good..her hair completely pulled back. Also a pair with deep blue-purple rims. My other siblings are far more conservative and pragmatic. For them it's like wearing running shoes, I suppose.

I would love to have a whole wardrobe of colored glasses to match all types of outfits, but with them being expensive progressives, I had to go with a conservative color (tortoiseshell).

I had loads of coworkers order from Zenni Optical, not as high quality as your local optician, but worked just great. One bought cool frames and colors so she had probably 10 pairs, she loved to coordinate with her outfits.

She must know my DH....
He started collecting frames about 5-6 years ago. Whenever he gets a new prescription, he buys a new pair and keeps the old ones and has the prescription changed. He uses his vision benefit every year for glasses and pays for his contacts.
Then, there's the shoes. I call him Mr. Ismelda.

That's hysterical, Crankin!

Well I went Christmas shopping last night and came home with two new pairs of boots for me, so I can't criticize...

(But they were Uggs on sale!!! Only $99!! And two of my go-to pairs of boots are worn out and read to fall apart!! So I got 2 pairs of Uggs for the price of 1!!)

Ha, ha, NY.
Pax, about 12 years ago, DH started traveling to Europe for business. At once, he decided he no longer wanted to look like a suburban dad and totally changed his clothing, etc. He no longer travels, but it stuck. I'm proud of him, in that he is fit enough to pull it off, at age 60.

Meanwhile my partner profoundly dislikes wearing a tie ever since he retired. He has face profile and beard that looks handsome when he wears a tie. Now it's buying nice looking fleece and semi-athletic jackets for him.

My DH lives in t-shirts and shorts. I can't imagine him in a tie, fancy shoes, or anything like that. Of course, being retired and primarily hanging out in warm climates, that is part of it.

He did just get some cool new specs, though!

DH hardly ever wears a tie, either. Dressing nice does not necessarily entail a suit. The only times he has worn a suit in the past 10 years have been interviews, weddings, funerals, and occasional fancy parties/dinners. He has not had to wear suit to work since the early 90s.
He wears really nice jeans and wool pants, and only wears chinos without pleats. He wears short sleeved button down shirts in checks and prints in the summer and sweaters in the winter. He also wears what women would call capris in the summer, with tee shirts, when not working. Mostly denim. Very popular for men in Europe and still get stares here.

If I put on a dress I end up looking like a really badly done up drag queen...so I play to my strengths and wear very tailored classic things; wool slacks with a beautiful hand, longer cashmere sweater, wool topcoat. I'm screwed for summer though. :p

I'm not keen to figure out contacts. Murienne I never thought of teal! I have mixed feelings about antique bronze..maybe. I'm not keen on tortoise shell or any brown colours against my face at this stage in life.
Some people with black hair and features look good in full black rim glasses.

I'm not sure there is such cheapies, Pax here in Canada. I've gone into chains like Lenscrafter and did find it limiting.

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Originally Posted by shootingstar

I'm not sure there is such cheapies, Pax here in Canada. I've gone into chains like Lenscrafter and did find it limiting.

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They are a company out of China, it's all mail order. Not sure if there are restrictions for such things in Canada though.

Being in China is what started DH buying cool glasses. He bought 2 pair while on a business trip.

Progressives aren't all equal - there are the standard non-digital, and two higher levels of digital progressives - I think it has to do with the manufacturing process. I've learned the hard way those distinctions matter quite a lot. I've never been able to see with contacts - I've lots of things going on with my vision and I don't do well with the standard progressives either. And if you can use the standard progressives and move up to a higher level lens, then many people literally can't drop back down in the future.

I think it's safe to probably order single vision glasses online, I've young coworkers who do so, but I wouldn't risk it. I've enough problems when I go to the opticians!

Shootingstar - I think Teal would look great on you!

AZfiddle - I've a small face as well and have found that Jones New York frames are typically the only ones I can find around here that fit my face - and I still have to be careful they don't sit too far away from my eyes. I've had problems with prescriptions in this situation as the it prevents us from being able to really take advantage of the prescription. We figured it out and the optician was able to somehow adjust my frames to make it work but still it's a concern. Which brand have you found that works for you?

The frames I have that I love are from a company called Kayla Designs.

I wear frameless/rimless glasses for the most part. The extra visual of the frame doesn't do much for me. I also found out that smaller lens and progressive prescription don't go together even if they are digital. The other drawback with frameless is that they are not as sturdy and will break if you are not careful.

On this go around, my glasses have rim on top half only in hopes of being bit more rugged and lens that is bit bigger than my last glasses to make it easier on the progressive.

I tried contact in the past and absolutely hated them. Never could get comfortable with it.

My Kayla designs glasses are probably on the edge for size, as far as progressives. The reading part is better in my DG frames, but they feel a bit too big now. They aren't, but it's just that I am used to the others.
Yeah, as far as the China thing, DH had 2 pairs of progressives made while he was there and although he actually met with an optometrist, when the glasses arrived, they sucked. So, since they were so cheap, he took them to his optician and had the prescription redone. He still saved a ton.
I would check out Eye Bobs, though. In USA, I love them for readers and they now will put your regular prescription in their frames.