How To Adjust Sunglasses Correctly: Issues & Solutions

People may find it hard to apply the same fixes for both plastic-framed sunglasses and the ones with metal materials all the time. However, in some cases, taking these things to a professional seems to be inconvenient.

That's why we are here to help you figure out how to adjust sunglasses with the following detailed instructions. Let's get started!

About Plastic Frames

With its high thickness, heavyweight and rigid look, the plastic frame has become a favorite choice of many people. Plus, this material enables manufacturers to create a wide range of designs and color options. 

However, the plastic frames are not as durable as the metal ones. Some products tend to discolor or fade after a long term of use. For the plastic frame of sunglasses, you can apply some fixes as follows:

• Medium fix: Earpieces 
• Hard fix: Retroscopic & pantoscopic tilt as well as plastic temples

About Metal Frames

In comparison with plastic frames, the metal one comes with greater thinness and is lightweight. So, it often bears a very simple look that has attracted minimalism lovers' attention at most. 

Besides normal forms, this type of frame is also available with the semi-rimless option. In other words, it has lenses that do not fit inside the frame, but you can still attach them to the arms easily.  

When it comes to the metal frame of sunglasses, there are more parts that you can make adjustments to:

• Easy fix: Nose pads
• Medium fix: Earpieces and temples
• Hard fix: Retroscopic and pantoscopic tilt

Common Issues With Eyeglasses & How To Fix Them

Next, we turn to an instruction of making the DIY adjustment with the glasses. 

Too Far Away From Your Eyes

For eyeglasses, especially the progressive type, the lenses should be as close to the eyes as possible. However, you may feel uncomfortable if the lenses touch your eyelashes. Hence, the frame comes to ensure that they will not do so.

There are two different ways of frame adjustment for the lenses so that they will not be too close or too far from your eyes. 

• If the frame is too far from your eyes, we suggest letting the nose pads be closer to the frame.
• If the frame is too close, pulling the nose pads far away from the frame can help solve the issue.

Your Glasses Feel Loose Or Tight

When you find some glasses mark on your cheeks or feel pain around your ears, your glasses may be so tight. On the other hand, repetition of putting on and removing the eyeglasses every day can cause the frame to loosen.

You should not wear a loose or tight pair of eyeglasses; otherwise, it probably leads to discomfort over time. In other words, the part between the temples and its tip must sit behind your ears in a fit. 

Without having this problem fixed by a professional, you can make adjustments yourself at home. After heating the temples, a steady gentle pressure also can let the frame move to its suitable form. 

Here are two steps of tightening or loosening your glasses:

• Step 1: Soak the temple in warm water for around 30 seconds until it becomes softer (for plastic and metal frames).
• Step 2 (Tightening): Tighten the temple by bending the temple end downwards. 
• Step 2 (Loosening): Loosen the temple by bending the temple end upwards.

The most appropriate adjustment is to bend the temple to no more than 45 degrees with the starting point behind the ear. If the point to let the bend get started lies in front of the ear, you need to loosen. 

Moreover, we must highlight that you should use warm water instead of hot one. And using a hairdryer is also a good idea. Utilizing hot water and a hairdryer at the same time can damage the frame as well as the lenses. 

Your Glasses Seem Too High Or Low

If the frame of your eyeglasses is not in its right place (too high or too low on your nose), you can modify the nose pads or temples. But steps are different for the plastic and metal frames. 

With only five simple steps, raising or lowering the plastic frame turns out very simple. 

• Step 1: Soak two sides of the temple in warm water for around one minute to heat them.  
• Step 2: Raise the temples and bend them carefully inwards until they fit when wearing the glasses.  
• Step 3: Lower the temples and bending them outwards till you have them with your expected height.
• Step 4: Repeat the adjustment for the two sides of the frame to get the balance. 
• Step 5: Rinse off the temples in cold water.

For the metal frames, here are what you need to do:

The main cause of the low frame may be the wide nose pads. You can use your thumb and forefinger without any additional tool to complete the adjustment. 

• Step 1: Hold the temple’s metal part without the padded one). 
• Step 2: Gently pinch one nose pad between your thumb and your forefinger. 
• Step 3: Repeat stages 1 and 2 with the other temple of the frame to bring two nose pads closer to each other.  
• Step 4: Keep these nose pads closer if you want the frame to sit in a higher position on your nose. 
• Step 5: Push these nose pads slightly apart if you want to lower them.  
• Step 6: Re-check the adjustment by ensuring that the bridge only touches your nose skin when you wrinkle the nose. 

Your Glasses Seem Tilted Or Off Center

This issue means that there is no balance between the two sides of your eyeglasses. Choose a flat surface and place the whole glasses on to see whether the temples touch the surface to detect the problem. 

And here is the instruction if your glasses get tilted:

• Step 1: Soak the temple with this issue in warm water for around one minute.  
• Step 2: After heating that temple, bend it upward or downward to get a balance of the two temples by a steady but slow pressure.  

When To Take Your Glasses To A Professional?

The fact shows that many glasses can be fixed right at home while some cannot. Generally, whether it is necessary to take your glasses to a professional depends mainly on their materials. There are three types that you commonly see on the market, including:

• Aluminum alloy
• Memory plastic
• Titanium or memory titanium

To put it simply, the higher the material’s durability is, the better chance of success you can make with repairing the sunglasses.

With minor adjustments, we suggest you try to do it yourselves. By contrast, with the more serious ones, please prioritize visiting a professional. Besides, adjusting the rimless or semi-rimless framed glasses is also too risky due to their high fragility. 

An additional note is that you should never try glasses in the wrong size. It is time to go to an optic store for the new pair. Finally, before making any adjustment, you had better prepare the spare glasses if your attempt does not work. 

Bottom Line

There are always ways on how to adjust sunglasses at home. That said, nothing can replace visiting an optometrist regularly. The professionals will advise you to have proper eye care and suitable sunglass selections.

Hopefully, our instruction above is helpful for your problems. If you need some further information, we are ready to help. So, feel free to drop us a line!