A Beginner’s Guide to Glasses

Speaking as an adult who only learned to drive at the age of 30, I know the feeling of being late to the party. I remember the day clearly. I had passed my driving test and I went buy my first car from a private seller. The seller had no idea that I knew literally zip about cars. I had simply chosen a car that was within my price range, not too old, and not too far from home. I wasn’t prepared for the vocabulary that accompanies all things on four wheels. The seller started throwing out acronyms like he was having flashbacks to learning the alphabet. There appeared to be some fascination with telling me all about a certain part of the engine that had recently been replaced at great expense, so I could be sure of a great performance (could have been pointing at the washer fluid tank for all I knew). And there was one point where the carpets were lifted to prove that the car wasn’t a welded-together Frankenstein. This had never even crossed my mind. 

Why am I mentioning all of this? Because being told you need glasses as an adult is something that you never expect, but it just might happen. And when it does, you’ll be faced with decisions that you’re not qualified to make. Let’s take a look at how you can make the best decisions possible regarding your very first pair of adult specs (check out EyeBuyDirect for a wide range of popular rectangle glasses to get you started).

You’re going to hear a lot about face shape

Ever looked in the mirror and thought “what a gloriously heart shaped face I have”? Or how about “now those, those right there, those are some defined brow lines and jawlines”? No, probably not. But when you need glasses, you need to be prepared to be analysed on what kind of face you have. The general rule is that round faces suit more angular frames whereas deeply chiselled faces may benefit from some feature softening curved frames. There is a lot of advice out there. Bon chance, mon ami. 

Don’t jump in with thick frames if you’re going to be active

This almost goes without saying but if you are truly new to glasses you won’t fully appreciate the importance of this tip, so you’re going to have to trust me. Thick framed glasses look great. They’re stylish. They add a new layer of character. They’re a talking point. But they get in the way of busy lifestyles. Thick frames are for looking good while sitting still, not for socializing or sporting pursuits.