How to Stop Your Sunglasses from Sliding by Optician Standards

How to Stop Your Sunglasses from Sliding (Without Guessing): A Practical Fit Guide Backed by Optician Standards

You probably Googled something like:

“sunglasses keep sliding down my nose”
“sunglasses hurt behind my ears”
“sunglasses touch my cheeks when I smile”

You don’t want a physics lecture. You want a clear checklist:

1. Can I fix the pair I already own?
2. Or is it simply the wrong size / wrong shape for my face?
3. If I buy a new pair, how do I not repeat the same mistake?

This guide does exactly that, using fitting rules real opticians use in practice, not just brand marketing.2020mag

1. 3-Minute “Why Are My Sunglasses Slipping?” Quick Check

Stand in front of a mirror with your current sunglasses and run this quick test.

Step 1: Check the “three contact points”

A properly fitted frame should touch your head at three points only:

• The bridge of your nose, and
• Behind each ear (temple tips), with gentle, even contact.

Optician training material literally describes this as a “three-point fit” – nose + two sides – for stability and comfort.2020mag.com

If you see this:

• Glasses sit on your cheeks when you smile
• Or you feel pressure on your temples only, not behind your ears

👉 The geometry of the frame (size / tilt / bridge) is probably wrong, not just “loose screws”.

Step 2: Clean and add friction

Oils, sunscreen and skincare act like lubricant between plastic and skin.
Several optical guides explicitly recommend cleaning the bridge of your nose and nose pads as a first step to stop slipping.GlassesDirect

Do this:

• Wash the bridge of your nose with a mild, oil-free cleanser
• Clean the nose pads and inner bridge with warm water + a tiny drop of dish soap or glasses cleaner
• Gently dry with a microfiber cloth

If you still slip a lot, consider:

• Stick-on silicone nose pads to increase grip and spread pressure
• Anti-slip wax (like Nerdwax) applied to the bridge to increase frictionGlassesDirect

These are cheap, reversible “rescue options” for frames that are slightly too loose or sit on smooth / oily skin.

Step 3: Is the frame simply too big or too small?

Now check overall width.

1. With your glasses facing you, measure the inside distance from hinge to hinge with a millimeter ruler.
2. Compare to your face width (roughly from temple bone to temple bone).

Optical retailers usually classify adult frame widths roughly like this:visionexpress

If your frame is much narrower than your face, it will pinch at the sides and want to “walk forward”.

If it’s much wider, your sunglasses will rely on gravity and keep sliding down.

If no amount of cleaning, pads, or adjustment seems to fix the problem, there’s a good chance the frame size and your head size simply don’t match.

2. First, Try to Fix the Sunglasses You Already Own

Before you buy something new, squeeze all the value out of what’s already on your nose.

2.1 Clean = more friction, less slip

As multiple eyewear guides point out, oil and sweat on the skin and frame is one of the most common reasons glasses slip.GlassesDirect

Quick routine (takes 1–2 minutes):

1. Wash your face around the nose with an oil-free cleanser.
2. Rinse your sunglasses with lukewarm water.
3. Add a tiny drop of mild dish soap or glasses cleaner on the pads and bridge.
4. Rinse and dry with a microfiber cloth.

Do this especially if you live in a hot, humid climate or use rich skincare.

2.2 Adjust or add nose pads (especially for low-bridge / “Asian fit” faces)

If your frame has metal pad arms (small pads on tiny metal “legs”), you have a big advantage: they’re adjustable.

Modern “low-bridge fit” or “Asian-fit” glasses are explicitly designed for people with:BonLook Felix Gray

• A lower nose bridge
• Higher cheekbones
• Flatter facial features

They usually feature:

• Larger / deeper nose pads
• A bridge shape that sits more securely on a low bridge
• Sometimes slightly longer temples for better balance

Self-check (30 seconds):

• From the side, does your nose bridge start lower than your pupils, almost at mid-nose?
• Do most standard plastic sunglasses slide down until the top of the frame cuts across your pupils?
• Do your lenses rest on your cheeks when you smile?

If you answered “yes” to these, you’re likely a good candidate for low-bridge / Asian fit designs.

For your current pair:

• If it already has pad arms → an optician can spread pads further apart or bring them closer to adjust height and grip.Eclectic Eyewear
• If it’s a full plastic “saddle bridge” → consider stick-on silicone pads to simulate a low-bridge design and add friction.GlassesDirect.com

2.3 Adjust the temples (arms) so they actually do their job

Temples (arms) should:Augussto

• Sit flush along the side of your head
• Curve gently just behind your ears
• Apply light, even pressure – not digging, not floating

If the curve is too straight, the frame will slide forward. If it’s too tight, you get headaches and red marks.

Most professional guides recommend letting an optician do these adjustments – they have the tools and can heat and bend frames safely.specsavers

But for metal temples with a visible core you can often:

• Very gently bend the last 1–2 cm of the temple tips downward and inward to hug behind the ear
• Do this slowly, with two hands, never using sudden force

If you’re not comfortable, don’t risk it – one free adjustment at an optical shop is cheaper than breaking a frame.

2.4 Temporary “grip upgrades” you can try at home

If sizing is mostly okay but you still get some slip, quick fixes can help:

• Silicone ear hooks that slide onto the temples
• Soft rubber sleeves for temple tips
• Anti-slip wax on the bridge and/or padsGlassesDirect.com

These won’t fix a badly mismatched frame, but they can turn a “slightly loose” pair into an everyday-wearable one.

2.5 When to stop DIY and see a professional

Go to an optician (even if you bought online) when:

• You have high-power lenses or complex progressives
• One lens always seems higher / lower than the other
• You feel eye strain or distorted vision along with slipping

Professional training material emphasizes that fit, tilt, and alignment affect not just comfort but optical performance.visionexpo

Most shops offer adjustments for free or a small fee – worth it before you give up on a pair.

3. How to Tell If Your Sunglasses Are the Wrong Size or Shape for You

If you’ve cleaned, added grip, and adjusted what you can – and your sunglasses still fight you – then size and geometry are probably the problem.

3.1 Decode the numbers on your frame

Look inside the temple arm. You’ll usually see something like:

54 – 18 – 140

These three numbers mean:Warby Parker

• Lens width (eye size): often 40–60 mm
• Bridge width: often 14–24 mm
• Temple length: commonly around 135–145 mm

You can use these as a starting point when you shop your next pair:

• If your current 54–18 frame feels too wide, you might look for 50–52 mm lenses or a slightly narrower bridge.
• If the temples feel short (constantly popping up), consider longer temple lengths like 145 mm.

3.2 Overall frame width vs. face width

Retail fit guides often classify internal frame width roughly like this:visionexpress

• Small / narrow faces: under ~125–129 mm
• Medium: ~130–139 mm
• Large / wide: 140 mm and above

You don’t need a lab. Just:

1. Measure your current most comfortable frame hinge-to-hinge.
2. Stay within a few millimeters of that measurement when you buy sunglasses.
3. Avoid going far wider “just for style” – oversized frames can affect comfort and stability.

3.3 Do you need low-bridge / “Asian fit” sunglasses?

Low-bridge / Asian-fit designs are specifically made for people whose:

• Nose bridge starts lower and is less pronounced
• Cheekbones are relatively higher
• Standard frames slide down, touch cheeks, or hit eyelashes

Ask yourself:

• Do most plastic fashion sunglasses sit too low and rest on your cheeks?
• Do you constantly see imprints on your cheeks, but not on your nose?
• Does pushing the frame 1–2 mm higher or further away instantly feel better?

If yes, look specifically for:

• “Low-bridge fit” / “Asian fit” labels
• Larger, adjustable nose pads instead of a flat plastic bridge
• Slightly different bridge shape designed to hook more securely over a lower nose bridge

These design changes are not marketing fluff; they’re explicitly meant to stop slipping and cheek contact for this facial structure.JINS

3.4 Cheek touch, eyelash sweep & pantoscopic tilt

Even with the right size, the tilt of your frame matters.

Pantoscopic tilt is the angle where the bottom of the lenses sit slightly closer to your cheeks than the top. Optical references usually consider a tilt of about 7–12° normal and often desirable.Lens

This helps:

• Align the lenses with your natural downward gaze
• Increase usable field of view in many lens designs

But if the tilt is too aggressive or the lenses are very tall:

• Your lashes may brush the lenses when you blink
• The frame may sit on your cheeks whenever you smile

If you notice that:

• Ask an optician to reduce pantoscopic tilt slightly by adjusting the temples.2020mag.com+1
• Or choose shorter lens heights / rimless or semi-rimless designs that don’t extend as far down.

4. Before You Buy Your Next Sunglasses: A Simple Checklist

When you’re shopping (online or in-store), use this quick checklist so your next pair actually fits:

4.1 Copy what already works

• Take your most comfortable glasses and note:
  • Lens width, bridge, temple length (the three numbers)
  • Inside hinge-to-hinge width
• Stay close to those numbers unless you know exactly what you want to change.clearly

4.2 Match frame width to face width

• Use size filters: Small / Medium / Large based on the ranges above.
• Avoid the temptation to go much wider “for style” if you already know your current width is comfortable.

4.3 Choose the right bridge design

• If standard frames always slide & touch cheeks → look for low-bridge / Asian-fit or adjustable nose pads.Felix Gray
• If your nose is high and narrow → a traditional keyhole or narrow bridge may work better.

4.4 Check temple design

• Look for temple lengths similar to your comfortable pair (e.g. 140 vs 145 mm).pro-optical
• For sport / active use, flexible or curved temples often stay put better.

4.5 Material & weight

• Lightweight metals (like titanium) or high-quality acetate usually reduce slip + pressure points, especially for all-day wear.
• Very heavy or thick fashion frames are more likely to creep down over time.

5. When Is It Time to Upgrade Completely?

After all the cleaning, pads, wax, and adjustments, it might be time to say goodbye to a pair if:

• The frame is clearly too narrow or too wide for your face
• The bridge shape fundamentally doesn’t match your nose (always slipping or always leaving deep marks)
• Lenses constantly touch cheeks or lashes even after tilt adjustment
• You feel eye strain or headaches even when the glasses stay put

In those cases, a well-chosen new frame isn’t a luxury – it’s the only way to get stable, comfortable vision.

Final Thought: Comfort Is the Real “Luxury” (Not the Logo)

Optical textbooks and fitter training agree on one thing: a good frame isn’t the one with the loudest logo – it’s the one you forget you’re wearing because:

• It supports your lenses at three stable points
• It matches your head width and nose bridge
• It stays put without digging or leaving deep marks

Use this guide to:

• Rescue the sunglasses you already own as much as possible
• Decide confidently when a frame is simply wrong for your face
• Buy your next pair with optician-level criteria, not just guesswork

References

1. All About Vision. “How Can I Tell If My Eyeglass Frames Fit?”
   (General guidance on frame fit, temple length, and how glasses should stay in place when you move your head.) allaboutvision.com
2. 20/20 Magazine. “Fitting of Eyeglasses and Forming Relationships.”
   (Describes the fitting triangle and three-point touch: contact at the nose bridge and behind both ears; discusses pantoscopic tilt in fitting.) 2020mag.com
   
3. SmartBuyGlasses. “Frame Size Guide” and “Ask an Optician: Which Frame Size Will Fit Me?” and “Glasses Measurements: Everything You Need to Know.”
   (Breaks down lens width, bridge width, temple length and overall frame width; groups internal widths into typical Small / Medium / Large ranges and shows hinge-to-hinge measurement methods.) smartbuyglasses.com.sg+2smartbuyglasses.com.sg+2
4. All About Vision. “8 Steps to Clean Eyeglasses — And 5 Things Not to Do” and “How to Make Your Own Homemade Eyeglass Cleaner.”
   (Recommends rinsing under lukewarm water and using a small amount of lotion-free dishwashing liquid; supports using mild soap and alcohol-based cleaners and keeping nose pads clean.) allaboutvision.com+1
5. Felix Gray. “What Are Low Bridge Fit Glasses? Benefits & FAQs.”
   (Defines low-bridge/Asian fit glasses and notes they are ideal for lower nose bridges, higher cheekbones, and wider faces that struggle with traditional fits.) Felix Gray
6. JINS. “Asian Fit vs. Low Bridge Fit: What Happened to Alternative Fit?”
   (Explains that low-bridge fit / Asian fit designs are made for people with low nose bridges and high cheekbones, improving stability and comfort.) JINS
7. VisionDirect & SmartBuyGlasses. “What Does Asian Fit Mean?” (VisionDirect) and “What Does Asian Fit Mean?” (SmartBuyGlasses).
   (Describe Asian-fit / low-bridge fit eyewear, how it addresses slipping and cheek contact issues, and typical design changes such as modified bridge shape and nose pads.) visiondirect.com.au+1
8. Lens.com; ABDO; IOT. “What Is Pantoscopic Tilt?” (Lens.com), “The Fitting of Spectacle Lenses” (ABDO), and “How Vertex Distance, Pantoscopic Tilt, and Wrap Angle Affect Prescriptions” (IOT).
   (State that a small pantoscopic tilt — commonly around 8–12° — is normal in proper fitting and discuss its optical effects and how tilt is adjusted in practice.) lens.com+2ABDO+2
9. Eyefiy. “Pure Titanium vs. Beta Titanium”; mivision. “Get Flexible Frames that Forgive and Forget”; Stanford Advanced Materials. “Titanium Advantages in Eyewear.”
   (Compare pure titanium and beta-titanium; note beta-titanium’s improved elasticity and toughness, lower modulus of elasticity and “memory” behavior, making it suitable for flexible, comfortable temples.) eyefiy.com+2mivision+2
10. Varai; Minus Eyes; Sprzelook. “Eyeglass Frame Materials: Types, Uses & Emerging Trends” (Varai); “How Much Do Glasses Frames and Lenses Weigh?” (Minus Eyes); “Looking for the Lightest Eyeglass Frames? Here’s Everything You Need to Know” (Sprzelook).
    (Provide typical weight ranges for titanium vs acetate frames, and explain how material, design and rimless constructions influence overall frame weight and comfort.) VARAi Inc.+2Minus Eyewear+2