By Autumn Sprabary
Eyeglasses and sunglasses aren’t one-size-fits-all accessories. There are many different facial features that a pair of glasses should not only work for, but complement.
That’s why a number of eyewear companies offer Asian fit glasses, also called “low bridge” or “global” fit. They’re designed to lay comfortably on and flatter a low nose bridge and high cheekbones, features often shared by people of Asian descent.
It’s important to note that anyone can benefit from Asian fit frames — especially if your standard-fit glasses frequently slide down your nose. They make clear and comfortable vision possible for everyone.
For a long time, frame companies only produced one fit for frames, otherwise known as the “standard fit.” Features often found on standard-fit frames include:
Fixed nose pieces that cannot be adjusted
Long, straight and narrow temple arms
A narrow nose bridge
Standard fit frames accommodate facial features such as a higher, more prominent nose bridge, and a narrow face shape. Having a higher nose bridge keeps standard frames from sliding. It also prevents frames from touching the eyelashes, or resting too heavily on the cheeks.
People who have different facial features often deal with headaches from a too-tight temple fit. Their frames also slide down their noses frequently. This is because their nose bridge is lower and cannot support the standard frame measurement.
Asian fit frames fix this problem by providing:
A lower, wider nose bridge
Larger, higher nose pads that can be adjusted depending on the frame style
Shorter, wider and slightly tilted lenses
Wider and slightly curved temple arms
These adjustments allow the frames to sit a little farther away from the face. This prevents the glasses from resting on the cheeks, pinching the temples and fogging up.
SEE RELATED: 9 Tips To Select the Best Eyeglasses Frames
It’s important to note that low bridge frames are not specifically for people in the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community. In fact, there are many AAPI people who wear standard-fit frames without any problems. Similarly, there are many non-AAPI people who could benefit from Asian fit frames.
If any of the following statements are true, Asian fit frames may work well for you:
You have high cheekbones – The bottom of your glasses often rest on your cheeks.
You have a wide or round face – Wearing glasses causes pinching, soreness or headaches along the sides of your head.
Your facial features are a little more flat – Glasses and sunglasses slide down your nose, which causes you to frequently push them back up.
To know whether a pair of frames has an Asian fit, they should fall within a certain range of measurements.
Most frame sizes are marked on the inside of one of the temple arms. Which arm it’s on varies, so you may have to check both. Measurements are in millimeters and listed in three segments:
Lens width – The first number represents the horizontal width of each lens. This number usually falls between 31mm and 60mm.
Bridge width – The second number is how wide the nose bridge is. The average measurement for standard-fit nose bridges is between 12mm and 31mm. Asian fit nose bridges typically start around 8mm.
Temple length – The third number describes how long the temple arms are. This measurement averages between 115mm and 155mm.
Measurements for Asian fit frames are generally smaller than standard-fit measurements. But every face is different, so work with your optician to find your perfect fit.
SEE RELATED: Eyeglass Frame Sizes Explained
Finding low bridge fit frames for your glasses or sunglasses is simple once you know what to look for. Top brands like Ray-Ban and Oliver Peoples offer low bridge options on their websites. Many optical shops also provide the alternative fit in-store.
If you’re looking for a more budget-friendly option, browse through EyeBuyDirect’s inventory of low bridge frames.
When shopping online, click around on the different search filters and frame specifications. Many brands have “low bridge fit” as a category on their website. However, the option may be a little trickier to find on other retail sites. Searching for “Asian fit” or “low bridge fit” on the website itself is another great way to specify your preferences.
Everyone deserves clear and comfortable vision, whether or not your facial features fit the standard mold. Low bridge frames are a great step toward inclusivity and happy vision for all.
READ MORE: How Can I Tell if My Frames Fit?
Jan Mars is so excited about the upcoming solar eclipse that she purchased 1,200 branded pairs of solar eclipse glasses for her clients and friends.
“Man, it was definitely one of those things you will remember for your whole life,” says the 58-year-old real estate agent based in Collierville, Tenn. of witnessing her first total solar eclipse in 2017. “I looked at when the next [solar eclipse] was on the way home from that one. I saw that [my brother’s ranch] was going to be in the middle of totality and I called him and said, ‘I hope you really are enjoying your ranch, because you got to keep it until then.’”
But where you purchase your glasses before next week's eclipse is important. Unsafe eclipse glasses were a significant problem in 2017, causing online retailers like Amazon to issue refunds and face a lawsuit by customers who purchased unsafe glasses. (The case was later dismissed in court.)
Here’s everything you need to know about how to purchase solar eclipse glasses, get them for free—and avoid fakes.
Before purchasing solar eclipse glasses or viewers, be sure to check that the items are coming from the American Astronomical Society’s (AAS) list of trusted vendors. While the AAS previously issued a press release stating that most eclipse glasses are safe to use, the group recently discovered a pair of counterfeit glasses that did not meet the ISO 12312-2 standards that dictate how much ultraviolet and infrared light can be transmitted by the filters.
“It's not smart to just go on Amazon, Etsy, eBay, or Google and search for eclipse glasses and buy whatever pops up,” says Richard Fienberg, project manager of the American Astronomical Society's Solar Eclipse Task Force. “There are companies selling eclipse glasses under false pretenses. The two most likely false pretenses are the glasses have not actually been tested properly and shown to be safe, or the glasses are made in China but printed with information that says they're made in America.” Where the glasses are manufactured matters because glasses must be tested by special equipment in an accredited lab.
Read More: ‘20 or 30 Super Bowls.’ Drivers and Officials Brace for Massive Eclipse Traffic Jams
As a part of the Solar Eclipse Task Force, Fienberg looks at companies’ test reports, and verifies their distributor, along with conducting a series of other checks, before adding them to the AAS list. (The list is not exhaustive, meaning there could be other sellers that are safe to purchase from.)
“If you see a company that claims to be on the AAS list, and then you go look at the AAS list and they're not on it, that should tell you something,” says Feinberg. “They might have been on it in 2017. But we erased the list and started from scratch a few years ago.”
Amazon tells TIME that all solar eclipse glasses they sell must be ISO compliant and come from the AAS list. “We continuously monitor our store, and if we discover a product was undetected by our automated checks, we address the issue immediately and refine our controls. We take action to maintain a safe selection for our customers, including removing noncompliant products, and outreach to sellers, manufacturers, and government agencies for additional information, when appropriate,” says an Amazon spokesperson.
Given the unreliable market, Fienberg suggests customers test out their eclipse glasses before April 8 to ensure they have a safe pair. To do so, he says you should first wear their eclipse glasses inside your home. If you can see the room and objects around you, that means your glasses are not dark enough and will not adequately protect you from the sun.
Read More: These Are All the Different Types of Eclipses
“There's a few really really bright lights that you might be able to see through—like an old incandescent bulb, you might be able to see the filament, [or] if you have a halogen bulb,” Fienberg says. “If you do look through them and you can't see anything, then you can actually go outside and take a really quick glance at the sun through them and probably find that the view is okay, it's sharp, it's not too bright, not too dim. Then you should feel pretty, pretty confident that they're safe.”
The STAR Library Network is distributing five million eclipse glasses to more than 13,000 U.S. public libraries, according to the AAS. Interested patrons should check with their local library to see if they received any free pairs, and may also check possible locations with this map.
Some optometry offices, including MyEyeDr., are giving out free eclipse glasses at select locations. Warby Parker will also be offering free pairs in all stores starting April 1.
Read More: Where You Can Watch the Solar Eclipse
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul announced on Tuesday that the state will distribute free, limited edition “I love NY” eclipse glasses across 30 locations. You can check distribution centers here. You should also check if your local county or city is offering free glasses. Residents in Chautauqua County, New York for instance, can get glasses from a number of locations.
You might also be able to snag some at your local watch party. The Republic Square in Austin, Texas is giving out free solar eclipse viewers for the first 200 guests that attend.
While you’ll be able to see the eclipse with your bare eyes once the moon completely covers the sun, or reaches totality, you must use solar eclipse glasses or viewers during the partial phases of the eclipse. That means that for the approximate hour leading up to—and the approximate hour after—the eclipse, your eyes need some sort of protection.
Fienberg says that those outside the path of totality—the roughly 115-mile wide path from which the total solar eclipse will be visible across 14 states—will have to use protection throughout the entire event.
Read More: The Eclipse Could Bring $1.5 Billion Into States on the Path of Totality
Fienberg says that people can use solar eclipse glasses with their contact lenses or prescription glasses, but should not use any other objects to look more closely at the sun. “It is dangerous to put on a pair of solar eclipse glasses and then pick up a pair of binoculars and look through those,” he says. “If you do that, the extra light gathering power of those big front lenses on your binoculars is going to collect so much light that it's going to burn through the solar filter and through your eye.”
If you have eclipse glasses from previous solar eclipses that crossed the U.S. in 2017 and 2023, they will still be safe to use in 2024, Fienberg says.
However, the AAS advises folks to inspect their old lenses for any holes, tears, scratches, or other damage. Older solar eclipse glasses can only be used if they are in good condition, the lenses have not gotten loose from the frames, or they do not show any other problems.
Read More: Why These Passengers Are Flying up to 30 Hours to See Four Minutes of the Eclipse
Those who don’t have eclipse glasses can still have a fun viewing experience by using pinhole projection. Instructions on how to make a pinhole projector can be found here.
Correction, March 20
The original version of this story misstated the type of service MyEyeDr. provides. They are optometrists, not ophthalmologists.