01 · PAD HEIGHT
Nose-pad height can change
If a pad arm is bent upward or downward, the point where the pad supports the nose can change.
If only one side is deformed, the two lens heights can look different or the frame can tilt.
When one pad looks abnormal, inspect not only the pad itself but also the shape and height of the connected arm.
A visible difference in pad height does not mean the pad arm should be moved first. Check that the rims, bridge and hinges are in a neutral structural state before comparing the arms; otherwise front distortion can be misdiagnosed and compensated at the nose pads.
02 · PAD SPACING
The spacing between the pads can also change
If a pad arm is bent inward or outward, pad spacing and the support point on the nose change.
Excessively narrow spacing can increase nose pressure, while excessively wide spacing can reduce contact area and stability.
The direction of any height change depends on the wearer’s nose and how the arm has moved, so it should not be treated as a fixed rule.
A spacing change is not only a change in the distance between two pads. Moving an arm inward or outward also shifts the real contact point and direction of load on the nose, so bilateral contact and final frame height should be reassessed on the wearer.
03 · PAD ANGLE
The contact angle can change as well
A twisted pad arm can change how a normal pad meets the nose.
Only one edge may press the skin and the real contact area may become smaller.
If one nose-pad mark suddenly becomes much deeper, check both pad angle and arm twist.
04 · VERTEX DISTANCE
Lens-to-eye distance can also be affected
Front-back deformation of the pad arm can change how far the frame sits from the face.
If the two sides differ, one lens may appear relatively closer to the eye.
With high prescriptions or progressive lenses, recheck wearing height and vertex distance as well.
If the pad arms sit at different fore-aft positions, vertex distance can also become asymmetric. With higher powers or lenses designed around position-of-wear data, one lens sitting closer than the other should be checked as an optical-position issue, not only a cosmetic one.
05 · WHY IT BENDS
How do nose-pad arms become deformed?
Dropping the glasses or directly pressing the nose-pad area can bend the arms.
Strongly holding the pads while cleaning, or repeated pressure in a case, can also create small changes.
Because pad arms are thin metal components, even moderate force can matter when the direction or repetition is unfavorable.
A thin pad arm is adjustable, but it is not intended for repeated trial-and-error bending. Reversing the arm across several axes without identifying the actual deformation can increase metal fatigue and load at the attachment, so adjustment should be limited to the required direction and amount.
SOLUTION GUIDE
Solutions at a glance
Check the height and shape of the pad arm.
Compare inward and outward deformation of the arms.
Check pad angle and arm twist.
Check front-back arm position and frame alignment.
GLANOS FITTING CHECK
GLANOS fitting check order
- Front
Confirm the frame itself is in a proper reference state. - Nose pads
Check pad and arm height, spacing and angle. - Width
Check lateral temple support. - Temple bend
Stabilize the final wearing position.
CAUTION
Repeated bending can weaken a nose-pad arm
Repeatedly bending a thin metal part back and forth can accumulate metal fatigue. Determine the required direction and amount, then adjust as little as necessary.
GLANOS EYEWEAR
There is a reason glasses feel uncomfortable.
nose-pad arm · nose-pad deformation · metal glasses · frame tilt · nose-pad fitting · eyewear fitting