Q1: Why are my glasses crooked when I smile?

A1: This happens if you have High Cheekbones or a Low Nose Bridge. When you smile, your cheeks lift up and push the bottom of the lenses, knocking them out of alignment. You need frames with Adjustable Nose Pads to lift the glasses higher off your face, or a Low Bridge Fit.

Q2: Can I adjust my sunglasses if they are plastic?

A2: Only if they are made of Acetate. Acetate is a plant-based plastic that softens with heat. If you look closely at the temple arm and see a metal wire inside (the Wire Core), it is adjustable. If it is cheap, opaque, injected plastic with no wire, do not bend it—it will snap.

Q3: How do I know which ear is lower?

A3: Put your glasses on and look in the mirror. If the glasses are tilted higher on the left side, your left ear is lower. The frame is being pulled down by the lower ear. To fix it, you need to bend the left temple arm up slightly so it makes contact with your ear sooner.

Q4: Will adjusting my glasses void the warranty?

A4: Generally, minor adjustments to the temple tips or nose pads are considered normal use. However, if you apply too much heat and melt the frame, or snap the hinge by using pliers, that is considered "accidental damage" and is usually not covered. Be gentle and use your hands, not tools.

Q5: Why do my glasses sit closer to one eye than the other?

A5: This means your temple arms are angled differently at the hinge (one is open wider than the other). You can correct this by gently holding the frame front and pressing the temple arm in or out. However, be very careful with the hinge mechanism. Read about hinge durability: Why Sunglasses Break: The Physics of Hinges.

Q6: Why are my glasses crooked after leaving them in the car?

A6: Heat warping. Temperatures in a car can reach 150°F, which softens acetate frames. If they were resting at an angle, they can cool and harden in that twisted shape. You will need to reheat them and gently twist them back to alignment (The "Table Test").

Why Are My Sunglasses Crooked? How to Adjust Frames for Uneven Ears

Why Are My Sunglasses Crooked? (It’s Not the Frame, It’s Your Ears)

You just unboxed a brand new pair of premium sunglasses. You put them on, look in the mirror, and... they are crooked.
One side sits higher than the other. You assume the frame is bent or defective.

But before you return them, take a breath.
It is almost certainly not the glasses. It is your anatomy.

Did you know that 90% of people have one ear higher than the other? Or a nose bridge that slopes slightly to one side?
Eyewear is manufactured to be perfectly symmetrical. Humans are not. When you put a symmetrical object on an asymmetrical face, it looks crooked.

The good news? You can fix this in 2 minutes. Here is the optician’s guide to "Bench Aligning" and custom-fitting your frames.

Step 1: The Diagnosis (The "Table Test")

First, we need to prove where the issue lies.

Open the sunglasses and place them upside down (resting on the top rim) on a perfectly flat table.
Tap the temples. If the frame sits steady and flat, the glasses are perfectly aligned.
The Verdict:
- If they are flat on the table but crooked on your face: Your ears are uneven. (This is the most common scenario).
- If they wobble on the table: The frame itself is misaligned (rare for new glasses, common for old ones that have been sat on).

Step 2: Identify Your Material

Before you start bending anything, you must know what you are holding.

Safe to Adjust: Cellulose Acetate (Premium Plastic) and Metal/Titanium.
Do NOT Adjust: Cheap Injection Molded Plastic ($10 gas station glasses). These will snap instantly if you try to bend them.
- Not sure what you have? Check our guide: Acetate vs. Plastic: The Wire Core Test.

Step 3: The Fix for Uneven Ears (The "Temple Bend")

If your glasses sit High on the Right Side: It means your Right Ear is Lower.
You need to bend the right temple arm down to reach your lower ear.

How to Adjust Metal / Titanium Frames

Metal frames (like our Spectra X Series) are the easiest to adjust.

Hold the front of the frame firmly with one hand.
With the other hand, grip the temple arm near the ear-bend.
Gently bend the temple tip down (or up) by 1-2mm.
Try them on. Repeat in small increments.

Sunglasses with silver frame and blue lenses on a white background

Editor's Choice

BAPORSSA SPECTRA X Polarized Shield Sunglasses β-Titanium 16g BT31 / 66-15-137

$541.00

View Product

How to Adjust Acetate (Plastic) Frames

Acetate needs heat to become flexible.

Heat it up: Use a hair dryer (warm setting) on the temple arm for 30 seconds. Do NOT overheat the lenses.
The Bend: While warm, gently bend the temple tip down.
Cool it: Hold the new shape for 20 seconds while it cools and hardens.

Step 4: The "Nose" Alignment (The X-Axis Tilt)

Sometimes the ears are fine, but the glasses tilt because one nose pad is sitting differently than the other.

The Fix: Look at the nose pads. Are they symmetrical?
- If the glasses sit too low on the right, widen the right nose pad slightly.
- If the glasses sit too high on the right, push the right nose pad closer to the nose.
- Need better pads? Read: Silicone vs. PVC Nose Pads Guide.

When to See a Professional

While BAPORSSA Titanium Frames are durable, there is a limit.
If the frame is severely bent, or if you are afraid of snapping a hinge, take them to a local optician. Most optical shops will adjust sunglasses for free or a nominal fee, even if you didn't buy them there.

Conclusion: Custom Fit is Key

Don't blame your face, and don't blame the frame.
Eyewear is meant to be adjusted. It is the final step of the ownership experience.
A few millimeters of adjustment can turn a "crooked" annoyance into a "custom" fit that feels like it disappears on your face.

Find your perfect (adjustable) pair. Shop the Titanium Collection.