Eyewear: how to choose the perfect fit online
Buying your new glasses online is incredibly convenient, but the fear of getting the wrong size often holds us back. No problem! Every frame has a hidden "ID card" that guides you in your choice. Let's discover together how to decipher these measurements and understand your face's proportions right from home.
How to Decipher the "Secret Code" of Your Frame
Take a pair of glasses that fit you perfectly and look inside the temples or the back of the central nose bridge. You will find a numerical sequence (expressed in millimeters) looking something like this: 50 □ 22 150. Here is exactly what these three values indicate:
Lens Width / Caliber (e.g., 50): represents the width of a single lens.
Bridge (e.g., 22): this is the distance separating the two lenses. A thin nose requires a smaller bridge (14-18 mm), while for a wider nose, it's better to opt for a measurement between 18 and 22 mm to avoid uncomfortable pressure.
Temple Length (e.g., 150): indicates the length of the arms that rest on your ears.
From Millimeters to Sizes: S, M, L
We are used to shopping using classic standard sizes. But when it comes to glasses, millimeters can be confusing. Here is a simple table to translate them:
| Size | Lens Width (Caliber) | Best for... |
| Small (S) | Up to 50 mm | A petite, narrow face. |
| Medium (M) | 51 mm to 54 mm | Standard facial proportions. |
| Large (L) | 55 mm and up | A wider, more prominent face. |
The Credit Card Trick: Discover Your Size in 1 Minute
Don't know your face size? There is a highly popular and super accurate DIY method online that uses a simple rule of proportion. Here is how to do it:
Take a stiff card (like a credit card or debit card).
Stand in front of a mirror or use your smartphone's front-facing camera.
Hold the card vertically, aligning one of the long edges exactly with the center of your nose, right between your eyes.
Observe where the other long edge of the card reaches compared to the outer corner of your eye:
Does it go past your eye? You have a petite face. Your ideal size is Small (S) (lens width under 50 mm).
Does it align perfectly with the outer corner of your eye? You have a standard face width. Your size is Medium (M) (lens width 51-54 mm). Great news: you can pull off almost any style!
Does it stop before the outer corner of your eye? Your face is wider. Your ideal size is Large (L) (lens width above 55 mm). Aim for oversized models and bold geometric designs.
The Mirror Test: The Final Check
To quickly tell if a pair of glasses you are trying on is unbalanced for your face, do this visual check:
It’s too small if: the temples tend to flare outwards and your eyes are not perfectly centered in the lens, but seem pushed towards the outer edges.
It’s too big if: the frame tends to slide down your nose and the bottom part of the glasses touches your cheeks when you smile.
A quick tip: Remember that sunglasses tend to cover a wider area. If you comfortably wear a size 50 for prescription glasses, you might do just fine with a 52 or 54 for sunglasses.
Now that you've learned how to read these measurements, exploring the options on Chic and Click will be a breeze.
How about getting started?