Shopping for eyeglasses? You aren’t alone. More than 60% of adults in the United States wear prescription glasses. If you’ve just gotten an updated script and are considering new frames too, know that certain styles can accentuate your best features and help you look younger, says Zahraa Khan, O.D., F.A.A.O., an optometrist at America’s Best Contacts & Eyeglasses in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio. 

For those who have been wearing the same type of frames for years: There are many new styles to check out, which means there’s something for everyone. Use this guide to help you choose frames you feel confident in — while having some fun along the way.  

Finding your best frames just got easier

Our new virtual try-on tool lets you try on our latest styles anytime, anywhere!

TRY IT NOW

Try Frame Shapes That Enhance Your Face Shape 

The shape of your face is a great starting point when looking for frames. Certain frame shapes may be more flattering than others. Consider these tips: 

• Oval face. Almost any glasses shape fits this face structure, Dr. Khan notes. “But most of the time, for an oval face, patients like — and we recommend — more of a bolder, wider frame.”  
• Square face. If you have a square face, try thinner frames with rounded edges, such as a rectangular frame with rounded bottom edges. Aviators, which are in style, fit the bill.  
• Round face. Go bold with soft edges. “Make sure the bottom of the frame hits right above your cheekbones,” Dr. Khan says. “If it’s too low, the frame will be way too big.”   

Consider Color 

In the same way that a particular shirt or coat color looks great on you, the right frame hue can make your face appear more youthful. Here are a few things to keep in mind when choosing a color: 

Ombré and two-tone styles come with a darker color at the top and lighter or clear tones along the bottom of the frame. This can draw attention away from undereye circles or lines. Plus, you’ll be on trend: Clear “crystal” frames in subtle colors are popular now. 

Glowing, golden hues add warmth to skin. This can help if you feel your complexion looks sallow, grayish, or washed out. 

Opposite-color frames flatter hair color. Balance darker hair with medium- to light-colored frames, and try out darker frames to show off lighter hair shades, Dr. Khan suggests. This may be a frame color switch for you if your hair color has changed as you’ve aged. 

Use Frame Features Strategically 

Picking the right size or style can help camouflage areas you’d like to downplay — or give your face a lift. Three things to highlight: 

Big frames. Big, bold frames are stylish, and that can be good news if you wear bifocals, trifocals, or progressive lenses. Compared to small frames, larger ones “give patients a bigger field of view,” Dr. Khan says. The result? “If you’re in a bifocal, trifocal, or progressive, you get larger areas for distance, as well as intermediate and near-range vision.”  

Now, some oversized frames may cause distortion, so let your optometrist and the optician advise you. “There’s a happy middle ground,” Dr. Khan says. 

Small frames. If you’d like to draw attention away from dark circles or loose skin under your eyes, go with smaller frames that partially cover that area, Dr. Khan says. Large frames and lenses could magnify it.  

Cat’s-eye frames. These are super trendy right now. And with their uplifted corners, cat’s-eye frames can lend an uplifted look to a woman’s face. Men may get a similar effect from rectangular frames with rounded corners. 

Recommended reading: Ask an Optician: I was told the frames I love don’t work with my lens prescription. What does that mean? 

Do Your Research 

When you’re staring at rows of glasses at the optometrist’s office, it can be overwhelming to know where to start. Doing a little research before your appointment can help you narrow down what you like. 

You can look at frames online or in magazines. Or you can use the America’s Best Virtual Try-On tool. It lets you experiment with new styles to see what works for you. 

Has it been a while since your last eye exam? Now’s the time to book an appointment!   

Enlist Help 

You don’t have to pick out frames on your own: Invite a friend along and make it an outing. “It’s always good to bring somebody with you, to get a true opinion,” Dr. Khan says. “The staff do a good job helping patients select frames too.”   

Overall, picking out frames shouldn’t be a stressful experience. If you can’t decide between two styles, know that many people have more than one pair. “A lot of my older patients like having a variety, to match different outfits and for different types of events,” Dr. Khan says. “They might have a pair for work, a pair for going out, a pair for evening wear.” 

If, on the other hand, you still aren’t sure about any pair, come back the next day. “Our staff members will be with you through the whole process,” Dr. Khan says. “I always tell patients, choosing frames is the fun part of an eye appointment.” 

Medically reviewed by Zahraa Khan, O.D., F.A.A.O.