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While posing with glasses just a bit too far down your nose may help accentuate a point, it isn’t always the most comfortable way to wear your glasses. Luckily, most modern glasses are easy to adjust, making them sit perfectly in place every time. Glasses straight from the manufacturer will only fit a small portion of the population perfectly, so it is normal to need a few adjustments here and there to create the perfect fit. Tweaking the nose pieces or temple tips can often make a big difference, creating a comfortable fit that stops glasses from sliding down your nose.
What Causes Glasses to Slip Off?
Most commonly, glasses will start to slip off the nose when incorrectly fitted to your face. An ill-fitting pair of glasses can come straight from the manufacturer or could be out of alignment from years of wear and tear. Typically, there are four areas of adjustment that can cause glasses to slip off. The first reason glasses slip is that the glasses are crooked or uneven from side to side. Your glasses may also start to slide down your nose if they are too tight or too loose around the temples. Another common reason glasses may slip off your nose is because the lenses are not parallel to the eyes, and one lens may sit closer than another to the eyes. Lastly, glasses could slip off the nose because the nose piece is improperly adjusted. Having glasses pinch your nose too tightly or too loosely can cause the glasses to begin to slide.
How Do You Prevent Glasses from Sliding?
Keeping your glasses firmly in place can not only create a more comfortable fit, but it will help you see better too. Glasses are intended to be worn with the eyes looking out through the center of the lens. When you are looking toward the top of the lens, due to sliding, you are not getting the most out of your prescription. Plus, continually sliding your glasses back into place is cumbersome and tiresome. With a few quick tricks and tweaks, though, it’s possible to have your glasses stay in place, creating the perfect fit.
Adjust Nose Piece
You can try to adjust the nose piece on your glasses if you have a stand-up metal type of nose piece. Pushing the nose pieces closer together or pushing them further apart can create a better-fitting pair of glasses. Making the nose pieces closer together can tighten the glasses and prevent them from sliding. Plus, you’ll be able to see better because you’ll be looking through the center of the lens instead of over the top.
Adjust Temple Tips
Sometimes glasses slide down the nose because the part of the frame that wraps around your ear is not adjusted correctly. Most temple tips can be softened by using a hairdryer on low heat for 20 to 30 seconds. If you do not have a hairdryer, try running your temple tips under hot water for about 45 seconds. Then, slowly bend or straighten the temple tips until you have a comfortable fit. Bending the temple tips downward will make a tighter fitting pair of glasses while straightening the temple tips can make the glasses feel looser.
Add a Rubber Band
Sometimes, adding a simple rubber band or hair tie to your glasses can create a tighter fit. Wrap the rubber band or hair tie around the base of the frame, near the temple tips. The added thickness can generate more friction between the glasses and your ear, keeping your glasses in place. The thickness will help to create a tighter fit and prevent sliding.
Straighten
If your glasses are crooked when you wear them, they may have come out of alignment from repeated wear and use. Looking at your glasses, your frames should sit straight across your face, hitting both eyes evenly. Try heating the frame with a hairdryer or by running the frame under hot water. Carefully push one side of the frame up while pushing the other side down, counterbalancing the force. Only make small adjustments at a time until your frame becomes level again. Having level and even frames can prevent sliding.
Resizing
Ultimately, your glasses may start to slide down your nose because they were not properly fitted when you first purchased them. You may want to consider visiting a trained and licensed optometrist to remeasure your glasses and have them corrected by a professional. You’ll notice a big difference when your glasses are correctly adjusted by a professional with professional tools and measuring devices, ensuring a snug fit.
Conclusion
Glasses help make modern life comfortable, allowing people to see and function in the world around them. When glasses don’t fit correctly, it can prevent them from performing as optimally as possible. Luckily, most modern-day glasses are made with malleable materials that make adjustments quick and easy. Usually, just a quick tweak of the temple tips or nose piece is enough to put your glasses back into alignment and prevent them from sliding.
When adjusting your glasses, always be sure to make minor adjustments at a time to prevent breaking and cracking. If you are unsure how to adjust your glasses or want them to fit perfectly, be sure to visit a trained and licensed optometrist. Not only will a certified optometrist know how to fit your glasses properly, but they’ll have the necessary tools to make the proper adjustments.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I bend plastic frame glasses?
Adjusting plastic frame glasses is much more complex than adjusting wire frame glasses. You can try to heat the plastic frame under hot water or with a hairdryer for a few minutes to get the plastic to soften. Only make minor adjustments at a time to prevent cracking and breaking. If you need to make more significant adjustments to your plastic frame glasses, it is best to take your glasses to a certified professional.
Why do my glasses make marks on my nose?
Your glasses may leave marks on your nose because they are too tight. Try to adjust the nose pieces, pushing them away from one another. You can also adjust the temple tips so that more of the weight is distributed to your ears rather than your nose. If these fixes do not help eliminate the markings, your glasses may be too heavy.
