01 · BRIDGE SHAPE
The bridge is not just a connector
In a typical one-piece plastic or acetate frame, the inner bridge contacts the nose directly and functions as the nose support.
Its width, height, thickness and inner curvature all affect comfort and frame position.
A plastic bridge is both a structural connection in the frame front and a load-bearing surface against the face. Frames that look similar externally can have different inner curves and contact heights, changing both wearing height and fore-aft position; the internal geometry matters more than the style name.
02 · SADDLE TYPE
Some saddle bridges support over a broader area
A saddle-style bridge can wrap relatively broadly over the top and sides of the nose, helping distribute pressure when it actually matches the wearer.
But even a visually broad bridge may contact only partly if its width and curvature are wrong.
03 · KEYHOLE TYPE
Keyhole bridges create a different contact geometry
A keyhole bridge has a keyhole-like opening from the front and a different inner shape from a saddle bridge.
Its design can change where load is carried on the upper and side surfaces of the nose and can affect wearing height differently from person to person.
The name alone does not guarantee suitability for a particular face.
04 · INNER CURVE
The inner curve can matter more than the front appearance
Two frames that look similar from the front can have very different structures where the nose actually contacts them.
The height, width and curvature of that inner surface are more direct determinants of fit.
The inner bridge surface cannot be described by one width number. Upper and lower width, side slope and contact depth all contribute, so two frames with similar front silhouettes can distribute pressure and support the nose at very different locations.
05 · FRAME SIZE MARKING
The same bridge number does not guarantee the same nose fit
The bridge number printed inside a frame is usually related to the boxing-system DBL, or distance between lenses.
It does not directly describe the full internal bridge width, height and curvature that touch the nose.
That is why two frames with the same marked number can fit the nose very differently.
The printed bridge value belongs to the frame measuring system; it is not a direct three-dimensional measurement of the space that fits around the nose. Two frames marked 18 mm or 20 mm can therefore have very different effective nasal contact widths and heights.
SOLUTION GUIDE
Solutions at a glance
Check the inner bridge curve.
Check contact position and pressure distribution.
Check bridge height and shape.
Check vertex distance and lash or cheek interference.
Check the bridge and overall fitting together.
GLANOS FITTING CHECK
GLANOS fitting check order
- Front
Check frame alignment. - Bridge
Check inner curvature and actual nose contact. - Width
Check temple support. - Temple bend
Finalize the wearing position behind the ears.
CAUTION
Bridge number alone cannot predict comfort
Even with the same marked size, internal curvature, height, thickness and position can differ substantially. Use the number as only one comparison point.
GLANOS EYEWEAR
There is a reason glasses feel uncomfortable.
plastic glasses · bridge · keyhole bridge · saddle bridge · acetate · frame selection · eyewear fitting