Welcome to another episode of ‘If In Doubt, Wear MASSIVE Sunglasses’ where today, we’ll be looking at different frame materials and how they can impact wearing glasses. We’ve all been there before, where your glasses are hurting on your nose, or too tight across the side of your head. The choice of frames can greatly impact the wearability of the glasses, they can either be the lightest frame and feel like there’s nothing on your head, or the heaviest pair of glasses that weigh a tonne! So, lets dive in!
METAL
Metal frames are typically retro in design. They tend to remind people of the old NHS glasses you used to get (I’ll be honest, I’m not old enough to remember these!). The good thing with metal frames is that they can be easily repaired and you don’t need heat to adjust them. There’s a whole range of tools we can use to make sure they are a comfortable fit for you. You can also change the nosepads on a metal frame to ensure a better fit on the bridge.
Certain metal materials can effect the wearability of the frame. For example, most metal frames are made from Nickel Silver. But they aren’t even made from nickel or silver! It’s 60% copper, 20% zinc and 20% of other metal materials. It’s layered with magnesium to reduce the corrison. However, this can be problematic for some wearers. It has been known that Nickel Silver frames and cause the skin to go a sort of greeny colour. This tells us that the patient might have an allergic reaction to Nickel Silver frames. Our dispensers would then recommend a plastic frame (more on those later) as they are more hypoallergenic.
The best type of metal frame would be a Titanium frame. They are made from 98% pure Titanium, and are hypoallergenic. Also, they are the lightest pair of glasses you can buy. There’s no screws or hinges, and are the strongest type of material. So if you’re a little clumsy with your glasses, maybe consider a Titanium frame.
There are other types of metal frames as well. Add into the mix Aluminium which are tough frames, but can break after having numerous adjustments made to them. There’s also Rolled Gold/Gold Plated frames, which are durable, tough, but can be very expensive and if the gold has rubbed off, it can expose the base metal material. Monel are also one of the most commonly used materials in the market, but the layers of paint can chip and crack if they’re not looked after. Finally, we have Stainless Steel which are lightweight, but can be chipped easily and harder to adjust due to their flexi sides, and Memory Metal which will quite literally spring back into their original shape and bounce off the floor if you’re lucky!
PLASTIC
The most common type of plastic frame you’ll see at your opticians in Cellulose Acetate. They can be heated up and moulded around your head to ensure a perfect fitting frame. In fairness, they are cheaper to manufacture and are available in many different colours. However, as they age, they can become brittle and could break easily. But on a lighter note, most Cellulose Acetate frames are hypoallergenic. Other plastic materials to consider are Cellulose Propionate which are easily adjusted with heat and can be shrinked if over-heated. They feel silky to touch, and are lightweight and strong, just like Titanium frames from earlier. They are also hypoallergenic, but can be more expensive than a Cellulose Acetate frame.
In addition, Optyl frames are again lightweight, resistent to burning, hypoallergenic and are the hardest plastics that are used for glasses. I remember a time at university (some years ago!) where our lecturer had an Optyl frame in a glass bottle, just like you get those model ships in a bottle. He asked us ‘how could I have got this frame in there?’ The answer, Optyl is easily adjusted under heat, but it has to be a very high heat. It has thermal memory properties, which means you can twist and bend the shape of the glasses, insert them into the glass bottle, and it’ll re-shape into its original form, how clever!
And finally, Nylon frames are commonly used for children’s, safety or sunglasses as they often have no hinges or screws. They are however quite hard to adjust due to their properties, but they are very durable meaning your child can throw their glasses and they’ll bounce (although, we do not encourage this!).
And there you have it! A brief overview of the frame materials that you’ll find in your very own glasses. Next time you visit us, take a look at the details of your frame, and ask one of our members of staff to assist you in choosing hte perfect pair of glasses.