Nomi Optical Care & Ergonomics

How to Adjust Your Frames at Home

The Art of the Tailored Fit — Discover how subtle, optical-approved tweaks can elevate your daily comfort, relieve pressure points, and keep your frames sitting flawlessly.

Before You Begin: The Golden Rules of Frame Adjustment

If your glasses aren't sitting quite right, a few mindful tweaks at home can often resolve minor slipping or tightness. However, frames can crack or deform if forced too far. Always follow these essential optical safety principles:

The Micro-Adjustment Rule

Always work in tiny 1–2 mm increments. Try your frames on between each tweak to test balance, tension, and comfort.

Brace the Hinges & Screws

Never bend directly at the joint or put pressure on the screw connecting the temple to the frame. Always brace the hinge with one hand while adjusting with the other.

Shield Your Lens Coatings

Never apply direct high heat to lenses. Excessive heat causes “crazing” (permanent micro-cracks in anti-reflective and UV multi-coatings).

Clinical Triage Note:

Do not attempt home adjustments if you wear Progressive / Multifocal lenses (which require sub-millimeter optical height alignment), have a high prescription (above ±4.00D), or wear rimless/semi-rimless frames. In these cases, or if frames are cracked or damaged, visit a qualified optometrist or optical dispenser.

Know Your Frame Material

Different frame materials respond differently to adjustment techniques:

Handcrafted Acetate

Cellulose Acetate & Plastics

Cellulose acetate contains an embedded stainless steel wire core and softens safely under gentle warmth.
Warm Water Method:Run the temple curve under warm tap water (45°C–50°C) for 20–30 seconds until pliable. Alternatively, gently warm with a hair dryer held 15 cm away on LOW heat while shielding the lenses.
Metals & Titanium

Stainless Steel & Titanium

Metal frames require cold mechanical adjustment without heating.
Direct Cold Adjustment: Never heat metal frames. Use your fingertips to apply firm, even pressure directly to malleable metal parts, such as bendable temple arms and nose pad support arms.
Thermoplastic Polymer

TR90 & Memory Plastics

TR90 possesses natural shape memory and flexes back to its molded contour.
Special Caution: TR90 frames generally return to original shape. Do not attempt extreme bends at home; consult an optometrist if fit adjustments are required.

Step-by-Step Fixes for Common Fit Issues

Select the scenario that matches your fit issue to follow our optician-approved adjustments:

1

If Your Glasses Slide Down Your Nose (Too Loose)

Symptom & Cause: The frames slide down your bridge when looking down or nodding. This occurs when the temple arm curvature behind your ears is too shallow or the nose pad width is too wide.

For Acetate / Plastic Frames:

  1. Put your glasses on and look in a mirror. Locate where the temple arm meets the top of your ear (the crest of the ear).
  2. Remove your glasses. Gently warm the temple arm tips in warm tap water for 20 seconds (keep lenses dry).
  3. With your thumbs, gently bend the temple tip downward and slightly inward right behind the crest of the ear to increase curvature.
  4. Cool under tap water, put them on, and test the fit.

For Metal Frames with Nose Pads:

  1. Support the frame front with one hand.
  2. Using the pads of your thumbs, gently squeeze both nose pads slightly closer together.
  3. This narrows the bridge, lifting the glasses higher on the nasal bone and preventing sliding.
Optician's Note: The glasses should sit securely and comfortably without feeling tight or pinching behind your ears.
2

If Your Glasses Feel Too Tight or Pinch

Symptom & Cause: Pressure or aching around your temples, or sore spots behind your ears caused by excessive inward temple tension.

If Pinching at the Temples (Side of Head):

  1. Hold the front of the frame securely near the hinge with one hand to protect the screw joint.
  2. With your other hand, gently ease the middle of the temple shaft outward.
  3. Repeat in micro-steps on both sides to maintain symmetrical balance.

If Digging In Behind Your Ears:

  1. Warm the curved temple tips in warm tap water for 20 seconds (keep lenses dry).
  2. Gently straighten the downward hook slightly to relieve pressure on the mastoid bone behind your ear.

Caution:

Work in small steps and never force the temple arms apart directly at the hinges. Glasses should be supported by the bridge of your nose and cradle your head gently.
3

If One Side Sits Higher Than the Other (Uneven Frames)

Symptom & Cause: Your glasses look tilted or crooked in the mirror. Because human ears are rarely at the exact same height, frames often require subtle leveling.

The Flat-Surface Tabletop Test

Place your glasses upside down on a flat, even table. Observe whether both temple arms touch the surface evenly. If one arm rocks or stays elevated, it indicates uneven temple alignment.

The Golden Optician Rule for Leveling:

  • If the Right side sits higher on your face → Gently bend the Right temple UP, or bend the Left temple DOWN.
  • If the Left side sits higher on your face → Gently bend the Left temple UP, or bend the Right temple DOWN.

How to Adjust:

  1. Hold the front frame firmly just past the hinge joint with one hand.
  2. With your other hand, apply gentle, even pressure on the temple arm shaft near the hinge in the required direction (UP or DOWN).
  3. Retest on the tabletop and put the glasses back on in the mirror.

Caution:

Do not bend or put pressure on the screw connecting the temple to the front of the frame. If the frame looks noticeably twisted or warped, visit an optometrist to avoid damaging the frame or lenses.
4

Frames with Adjustable Nose Pads

Precision Fit Control: Metal and combination frames with silicone or titanium nose pads allow customized height, width, and vertex distance adjustments:

To Raise the Frame Height:

Gently squeeze both nose pads closer together with your thumb and index finger.

To Lower the Frame Height:

Gently push both nose pads further apart to allow the bridge to sit lower on the nose.

If Eyelashes Touch Lenses:

Grasp the pad arms and gently push both pads back toward the frame front to increase eye clearance (vertex distance).

Flush Surface Alignment:

Ensure the flat surface of the pad rests completely flush against your nasal bridge to distribute weight evenly and prevent red pressure marks.

Safety Tip:

Always support the base of the metal pad arm where it is welded to the frame eyewire before adjusting the pad. Never twist against the solder joint.

Complimentary In-Practice Optical Adjustments

Did you know? Most independent optometrists and retail optical dispensers across Australia routinely offer complimentary standard frame adjustments as a courtesy service — even for glasses purchased online.

If you ever feel unsure about making an adjustment at home, or if your frames need specialized bench realignment, visit your local optical practice where a licensed optical dispenser can adjust your frames with precision heated beads and specialized alignment tools.

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