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THE ALAFIFI JOURNAL

How to read your glasses size: a practical frame guide

Understand lens width, bridge width and temple length before choosing your next pair.

Eyeglass frame and measuring tool

A practical Alafifi guide · Fit, style and care

Understand lens width, bridge width and temple length before choosing your next pair.

Start with a pair that feels comfortable

Use a comfortable existing pair as a reference. Photograph the numbers inside the temple and note the model name. Measurements narrow your choices, but they do not describe every part of how a frame sits on your face.

Reading 52 □ 18 — 145

In this illustrative example, 52 is lens width, 18 is bridge width and 145 is temple length, in millimetres. It is not a recommended size for everyone. Model and colour codes can also appear on the temple, so distinguish them from measurements.

Compare more than one number

Frames with the same lens width can have different overall widths, curves and bridge designs. Compare front and side images along with all available measurements. Frame measurements are not a lens prescription, and bridge width is not pupillary distance.

Try the frame thoughtfully

Check how it rests on the nose and behind the ears, whether it remains steady as you move, and whether your lashes or cheeks touch it. Describe any pressure or slipping to an optician rather than bending the frame yourself.

Use filters as a starting point

Start with eyewear type, then shape, material and fit. Check the individual model measurements before deciding. Bring your current pair to Alafifi’s Downtown or Third District stores in Sadat City, or the Wadi El Natrun store, for an easier comparison.

Explore more

Size guide · Eyewear · Alafifi stores

Further reading

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