Buying Guide

Choose Your Frame

Start here. The frame is the part people see — and the part that either fits your face or doesn’t. Get the fit right first, then worry about style.

Find Your Face Shape

The classic rule is to contrast: choose a frame shape that opposes your face shape. It’s a good starting point, not a law.

• Round face — Rectangle and square frames add definition and length.
• Square face — Round and oval frames soften a strong jaw.
• Oval face — Almost anything works. Focus on getting the width right.
• Heart face — Cat-eye and rimless frames keep visual weight off a broad brow.
• Oblong face — Tall, deep frames add proportion to a long face.
• Diamond face — Rimless and oval frames balance sharp cheekbones.

Frame Size Guide

Every frame has three numbers printed on the inside of the temple — for example 52-18-145. These are lens width, bridge width, and temple length, all in millimetres. Find these numbers on a pair you already like and own comfortably, then buy the same numbers again.

Number	What it means	What to check
52 — Lens Width	Width of each individual lens	Your pupils should sit near the centre of each lens
18 — Bridge Width	Gap between the two lenses	Should sit on your nose without pinching or sliding
145 — Temple Length	Length of the arm from hinge to tip	Should reach your ear comfortably without pressing. Standard is 140–150 mm

Frame Materials

• Acetate — Warm, colourful, adjustable with heat. Slightly heavier. Used in most fashion frames.
• Metal — Thin, light, understated. Bends easily — and bends back easily too.
• TR90 — Nearly unbreakable and very lightweight. The right answer for children and active use.
• Titanium — Light, strong, hypoallergenic. The most expensive option, worth it if metal irritates your skin.

Rim Type

• Full rim — Holds the lens all the way round. Strongest, and hides thick lenses best.
• Half rim — Lighter, with a nylon cord below the lens. A good middle option.
• Rimless — Almost invisible on the face. Needs a thicker lens to hold the mounts — a poor choice for a strong prescription.

---

Choose Your Lens

The right lens depends on your prescription strength, daily tasks, and budget. Here is what each choice means in plain language.

Lens Index — Thickness

A higher index bends light more efficiently, so the lens can be thinner for the same prescription power. It only matters if your prescription is strong — paying for 1.74 on a −1.00 script gets you nothing visible.

Index	Best for	Thinness
1.50	Up to ±2.00 — standard everyday lenses	—
1.56	Up to ±3.50 — the most common choice	★
1.61	Up to ±5.00 — noticeably slimmer above ±3.00	★★
1.67	Up to ±7.00 — strong prescriptions, minimal edge	★★★
1.74	±7.00 and above — thinnest available	★★★★

Lens Coatings

• Anti-Reflective (AR) — Cuts glare from screens and oncoming headlights. The single most useful coating. We recommend it on every pair.
• UV400 Protection — Blocks UVA and UVB. Standard on all our lenses including clear — don’t pay extra for something already included.
• Hydrophobic — Repels water, dust, and fingerprints. Easier to clean and stays clearer longer.
• Blue Light Filter — Reduces high-energy visible light from screens. Useful if you spend many hours in front of a monitor.
• Photochromic — Darkens in sunlight, clears indoors. A good one-frame solution for people who move between environments frequently.
• Scratch-Resistant — All our lenses carry a base hard coat. It doesn’t make lenses scratch-proof — nothing does — but it extends lens life significantly.

The AR coating is the one we’d never skip. Everything else depends on your lifestyle.

---

Lifestyle Recommendations

Not everyone needs the same lens. Here’s what we recommend based on how you actually use your glasses.

Office & Screens

1.56 index with Anti-Reflective and Blue Light filter. Single vision for most people; ask about occupational progressives if you switch frequently between screen and distance.

Driving

Polarised sun lenses remove glare from wet roads and windscreens. If you drive at different times of day, photochromic lenses are a convenient single-lens solution.

Sport & Active Use

TR90 frame with polycarbonate lenses — impact-resistant and the lightest combination available. Wrap-style frames stay in place better under movement.

Reading

Single vision near lenses if you only need help up close. Progressive lenses if you need both near and distance in the same pair — ask us whether your prescription suits them.

Travel & Outdoors

Photochromic or a dedicated sun pair with polarised lenses. Always pack a spare pair when travelling — replacing glasses abroad is inconvenient and often expensive.

Children

TR90 or another flexible frame with polycarbonate lenses. Annual eye tests are recommended for all school-age children — undetected vision problems directly affect learning.

---

Need Help?

Not sure which frame or lens is right for you? Come into our Kathmandu store and our team will walk you through everything in person — no charge, no obligation. Or send us a message on WhatsApp before you visit and we’ll answer your questions first.