Both metal and plastic frames support the front on the nose, but metal frames often allow independent pad adjustment while typical plastic frames depend more on the bridge itself, giving the two structures different fitting ranges and strategies.
01 · METAL FRAME
Metal frames often allow individual nose-pad adjustment
Most metal frames with adjustable nose pads allow relatively fine adjustment of pad spacing, height, angle and left-right contact.
The two sides can also be set slightly differently to match facial or nasal asymmetry.
Pad-arm adjustment can alter wearing height and vertex distance, but moving one variable can change others at the same time.
02 · ACETATE FRAME
Plastic frames depend more on bridge compatibility
A typical one-piece acetate or plastic bridge cannot be independently repositioned like metal nose pads.
That makes initial compatibility of bridge width, height, inner curvature and actual contact especially important.
Some plastic frames do use adjustable nose-pad systems, so the actual structure should always be checked.
03 · ADJUSTMENT RANGE
The adjustment range is different
Metal frames can often fine-tune nose contact through pads and pad arms.
With plastic frames, front alignment and temple fitting are the baseline, and adhesive pads or professional added nose-pad modifications may sometimes be considered.
Such modifications are not possible on every frame and depend on material, structure and available working space.
04 · PRESSURE
Pressure can be transmitted differently
Metal frames often support the nose through two relatively small pads, so angle and contact area strongly affect pressure concentration.
Plastic frames often contact over a broader inner bridge surface, but a poor curvature match can still create pressure at an edge.
The same front load can therefore produce different patterns of pressure and marks.
05 · FRAME SELECTION
Initial frame selection is especially important with plastic bridges
Adjustable metal nose pads provide some correction range, but a one-piece plastic bridge that is substantially mismatched has more limited adjustment options.
When choosing a plastic frame, check actual bridge contact and wearing height in addition to design and lens size.
SOLUTION GUIDE
Solutions at a glance
Pad spacing, height, angle and left-right contact can often be adjusted in detail.
Bridge width, height, curvature and actual contact are more important.
Check pad contact and pad-arm condition first.
Check bridge structure and frame selection first.
GLANOS FITTING CHECK
GLANOS fitting check order
- Metal
Front → nose pads → width → temple bend - Plastic
Front → bridge → width → temple bend
CAUTION
Do not fit every frame with the same method
Metal and plastic frames meet the nose differently and have different adjustment ranges, so the same symptom can have a different cause and solution. Work from the actual frame structure.
GLANOS EYEWEAR
There is a reason glasses feel uncomfortable.
metal glasses · plastic glasses · nose pads · bridge · nose fitting · acetate · eyewear fitting