The shape of your face is the most important factor when choosing any frames. The list below will give you some ideas as to frame designs.

Round Faces

Oval Faces

Triangular Faces

Square Faces

Rectangular Faces

What range of frames do you sell?

We offer a full range from budget to designer, all types of metal, plastic, semi-rimless. A large selection of sunglasses in budget and designer options.

Can I send my own frames to have new lenses fitted?

Yes you can. This is called a reglaze. In this case a glazing fee is charged and we do not offer any guarantee on your own frame.

What designer frames do you sell?

We stock a wide variety of designers in both optical frames and sunglasses. It varies all the time depending on the deals we are able to arrange with our suppliers so the best option is to stay in touch regularly with this site and look under designer fames and designer sunglasses.

Can I buy the frame only?

Yes you can. Just tick the frame only option on the selection menu and we will post you the frame only. It is the same price as a frame with prescription lenses as that is an all inclusive price quoted.

Can I buy glasses I like with just a plain lens in them?

Yes you can just select this as a frame only option on the selection menu.

If I like a certain frame I’ve seen in the opticians would you be able to source it for me at a better price?

If you want to give us the details of the frame make, model, colour and size we can check if we can get it for you.

How will I know if a frame looks nice on me?

Try it online or at home. You can e mail your frame on face picture to a friend to ask their opinion. If you want to try up to three frames at home you may. We charge you postage only and you have up to a week to try them at home. After this send them back to us and indicate the one you like and we will put your lenses into it. If you decide to keep them all we will charge the frames to your credit card.

We realise that many people like to try on a few frames before commiting to ordering with their prescription. Our site does specify frame widths and various other measurements which you can compare with spectacles you already have so you know that a prospective pair will fit you. However, ABC opticians offer you a trial frames option which you can get to by clicking the 'TRIAL AT HOME' button on the product page of a particular pair of glasses you are viewing. We can send you up to 5 different frame styles at any one time. All you pay is the €5.00 which covers the cost of posting the 5 frames to you and also includes costs to return the frames once you have tried them on.

This amount is non-refundable once the order is placed.

Once you have tried your chosen frames for style and size, please return them to us in the pre-paid envelope sent with your order within 14 days. Failure to do so will mean we will need to charge your card with the full value of the frames as stipulated on our website.

Once you have selected the pair that suit you most, simply return the trial frames back to us and order the full prescription pair from our secure site.

How do I know if a frame will fit?

You can work it out from your PD measurement and the frame measurements. If you find that they are close you should have a frame that fits well. We also categorise a frame as to which size face it fits. You can determine if you need a small, medium or large frame according to your face size.

What happens if I don’t like the frame when I get it?

We have tried to ensure that this will not happen. Contact us immediately. If you need to return them then fill out a returns form and explain why this has occurred. You can obtain this by request. We will review each case individually. If it is appropriate we will offer a refund on the frame price only. Your frame will have to be in perfect condition. We do not offer refunds on postage, packaging or on prescription lenses made to your order requirements. You may not return any frames after 28 days as this outside the refund policy time limit.

What do I do if the frame feels loose or tight or sits uneven on me when I get it in the post?

In this case it is only a minor adjustment that is required. Your local high street optician will usually adjust them for you. In some cases may incur a small fee.

What frames will fit bifocals or varifocals?

At the moment we do not sell bifocals or varifocals.

Can I use my own frames again?

Yes you can. This is called a reglaze. We do not offer any guarantees on your own frame.

Will you put new lenses into my old glasses?

Yes. This is called a reglaze. We do not offer any guarantees on your own frame.

Do you do any deals or special offers?

Yes we do. From time to time we run promotions on frames and lenses so keep checking our site to stay up to date on our special offers.

What do the measurements on the frame tell me?

You will see marking such as 50-17-140. The first number tells you the size of the eyeglass part of your frame. The bigger the number the bigger the eye glass size of your frame. The smaller the number the smaller the eye glass size of your frame. The next number is the bridge size. This tells you the distance between the two eyeglass parts of your frame. It is the length of the connecting piece of material from the left eye to the right eye. The wider it is the better it is for someone with a wide nose bridge. The narrower it is the better it is for someone with a narrow nose bridge.

How will I know what size glasses I need?

If know your PD you can work it out from this. Choose a frame similar to this measurement and the frame should fit properly. If you already have a frame that fits well look at the measurements on it and try to find one similar to it.

What frame suits my face shape?

If you already wear glasses look carefully at your present pair, hopefully you chose them because they suited you. Therefore I would recommend choosing something of a similar shape, maybe slightly different, unless your face has changed radically this will suit you again.

Your face shape will dictate what looks right on you.

The fashion at the present time is for fairly squarish, wide, shallow frames. This may naturally suit you. If however you know this style does not look good on you, then you will need to pick a frame that is softer and rounder.

The best way of deciding is to try some roundish glasses, then some fairly square ones and then the classic frame that is rounded at the bottom and with a slightly curved top. This is a style that suits many people

The classic face shape guide is as follows, however it is easy to read but very difficult to pin down in real life. Is my face really round or is it more oblong?

Oval Faces

Oblong Faces

Round Faces

Square Faces

Triangular Faces

What Colour Frame should I choose?

Colour is one of the most fun choices when picking your glasses. It is probably the single most critical factor in choosing your glasses as far as appearance matters.

There are two schools of thought when choosing glasses; either I really don’t want my glasses to notice very much, I am far more important than my glasses.

Or here are my glasses and I am behind them, if I am spending money on glasses, I want people to know I am wearing them.

A strategy for making the most of your glasses is to alternate your style of colour choice, one pair quiet, the next pair bold. That way people will notice your glasses and complement you on your new glasses. If you always stick with the same style people will be unsure if you have changed them and won’t risk mentioning them.

It is nice to be complimented on and you can make someone else’s day by complementing them.

If you want your glasses to be nearly invisible, then thin rimmed frames are best. The colours to go for are gentle pastel colours in plastic materials, or frames with a lot of clear plastic. Metal glasses, bronze or silver can be very effective with this strategy. Colouring that is mottled and broken like camouflage will let the frame seem more subtle.

If you want the frames to be noticed, then heavier thick frames are best. The colours to go for are solid colours in bright hard tones that really stand out, a strong pattern or jewelled inlays will also make them a feature.

Particular colours can look stunning with a favourite outfit, but you have to be careful if you only have a couple of pairs of glasses they will have togo with your whole wardrobe. If they only look great with one outfit and awful with everything else you will go off them very quickly.

Neutral colours for glasses that will go with most outfits are light brown or dark, (tortoiseshell), gold, silver, and surprisingly red. A lot of people shy away from red but on the face it is amazingly versatile. Be careful of pink it can be wonderful but it can look terrible.

The colours to be careful with are green and blue, with the right outfits you can look stunning, with the wrong outfit you will just look ill.

The younger you are the stronger colours you can generally get away with, for ladies over 65, you are likely to need a stronger colour. If you have preferred quieter tones you very often need a little more colour in the cheeks!

I would recommend colour me beautiful as a guide to selecting what is best for you, to help coordinate your whole wardrobe.

What frame size would look good on me?

When choosing your new glasses. We have given sizes of frames as the total width of the frame across the front of the glasses from the widest point of the spectacle rim in millimetres.

Also we have given the total depth of the frame from the top outer edge of the frame to the bottom outer edge of the frame.

If you are an existing spectacle wearer you can measure your present glasses to give you an idea of how big the glasses are in comparison to your own ones.

It can be difficult judging sizes from photographs so we recommend you check the size, against an existing pair of your glasses.

Oval Face:

Your face length is roughly equal to one and a half times the width. Your face is well balanced with high cheekbones and a gently curving jaw. Your forehead is slightly wider than your jaw.

Your in luck, people with this sort of face shape can choose most frame shapes as most will suit you. Simply make sure the size of the frame you choose is in proportion to your face.

Square Face:

Your face is as deep as it is wide with a deep forehead and a square jaw line.

People with this sort of face shape should generally choose frame styles that are more rounded or oval and should avoid slim square or angular shaped frames.

Long Oblong Shaped Face:

Your face is longer than it is wide with high cheek bones and a deep forehead.

Choose wider frames and styles with a more pronounced heavier top. Solid looking large square frames can often balance a narrow looking face. Avoid small subtle shapes.

Heart-Shaped Face:

Your face is narrow at the jaw line with a small neat chin and mouth. Your face is wide at the cheek bones and forehead.

Choose a frame style that is slender, rounded or square but avoid a style that has a greater width at the top. This will tend to reflect the shape of your face rather than enhance your look.

Round Face:

Your face is as wide as it is long and is fairly short in height with a wide forehead. You have full cheeks and a rounded jaw line.

Choose frames with lenses that are wider than they are deep and squarer in shape. Frames that have decoration where the arm meets the frame and with arms that meet the frame at the top would suit. Avoid big round frames that make your face look rounder.