Here's How to Keep Your Glasses From Slipping

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Eyeglass wearers know that the struggle to get your frames to stop sliding down your nose is never ending. Whether it's because you're sweaty or the bridge of your nose is *nonexistent*, keeping your glasses or sunglasses from slipping down your face is one of the most annoying struggles those without perfect vision often deal with on the reg. Well, we've got some great news for you — the pushing-up-the-frames game is *officially* about to be over. We tapped optometrists Dr. Andrea Thau, Past President, American Optometric Association, and Dr. Monica Hazien, Now Optics, and optician Carissa Dunphy, ABOC, Founder and Editor-In-Chief, Optician Now, to tell you exactly why your frames are falling down and how to keep your glasses from slipping down your nose in the future.

Why do glasses slip down the bridge of your nose?

"There are several reasons why glasses might slide off," Dr. Thau says. "In most cases, the frames that were selected were not properly fitted or suited for the patient’s face shape (they could be too heavy or wide). The temples of the frames might be too long or short, or the bridge of their nose may be too narrow or too wide to hold the glasses up."

"Problems with the hardware, such as loose hinges, bent temples, or improperly adjusted nose pads, could also be the culprit," Dr. Thau adds. "Even having oily skin could result in frames sliding off the face."

The way you store your glasses when you're not wearing them can also cause a looser fit.

"Storing your glasses without a case or in a heated environment such as a car's glove compartment can cause a frame to lose its original shape and require a professional realignment and adjustment," Dr. Thau says.

Dr. Hazien also advises that improperly wearing glasses "on your forehead or on the top of your head," can also "stretch the temples out" on the frames, causing a looser fit.

How to keep glasses from slipping down your nose

Your best bet is to visit your eye doctor or glasses store. "A glasses adjustment with an optician can help prevent glasses from sliding down," Dr. Hazien says. "The optician can adjust the glasses by applying heat and bending the back of the temples to make them fit tighter on the patient’s ears. They can also use tools to bring in the temples by making an adjustment to the frame hinges. Frames that have adjustable nose pads can also be adjusted to tighten the fit."

If you're in a pinch and can't make it to the optical store right away, there are a few expert-approved hacks and products that can be used to temporarily fix loose glasses.

"An excellent quick help is Setex Gecko Grip Anti Slip Eyeglass Nose Pads (for plastic frames) and Setex Grip Temple Tips (for metal or plastic frames)," Dunphy says, "I’ve tried and tested them, and they’re super thin, easy to DIY, very comfortable, and work well."

If you suspect that your glasses are sliding down your nose due to facial oil, Dr. Thau recommends cleaning the nose pads with isopropyl alcohol and a tissue to remove the excess oil.

Dr. Thau also has another easy hack to keep your glasses in place for the DIY-ers out there. "Get the smallest size rubber bands that you can to slide down the temples (arms of the eyeglass frame) and push them down to where the temple and hinge meet," she says, "This will make the temples tighter and prevent slippage."

Another way to make sure your glasses stay put is by connecting the frames to an eyeglass chain or strap, suggests Dunphy. Plus, adding a chain or strap is a super fresh way to accessorize and inject a bit of personality into your look.

How to keep glasses from slipping down your nose during sports

Are your glasses slipping down your nose during physical activity like sports or running? Dr. Hazien recommends investing in prescription sports goggles. "These usually come with a strap to secure the glasses on patients’ eyes and reduce any movement," she says.

"If you're planning on contact sports, then consider a sports or safety frame that has an extremely cushy and impact-safe nose bridge, and/or soft elastic temples," Dunphy adds.

Consider what you are wearing during physical activity as well. If your uniform requires a hat or helmet, choose narrower frames, as bills on hats curl down and hit wide frames, says Dunphy. "Some frames have temples that remain straight so they can slide off and on easier if wearing a helmet, VR headset, or other headgear," she adds.

If you're still having trouble with your glasses slipping during sports or physical activity, Dr. Hazien recommends speaking with your eye doctor about trying prescription contacts instead.

What can happen if your glasses are too loose or fit incorrectly?

Besides the possibility of your glasses falling off of your face entirely, causing them to break or go missing, eyewear that fits incorrectly can impact your eyesight.

"How eyeglasses fit is critically important — if the fit is incorrect, not only can a patient experience discomfort, such as pinching and headaches, but can also cause vision problems by not having the patient looking through the proper area of their spectacle lenses," Dr. Thau says.

How do you know if a pair of glasses fits you?

"When ordering eyeglasses, patients should consider the various options available for their lenses, and what is best for their particular prescription and lifestyle," Dr. Thau says.

"Ordering a pair of glasses online is not as easy as purchasing clothing or concert tickets. Every pair of eyeglasses must be custom fitted to not only comfortably suit your face but also to meet your particular prescriptive needs," Dr. Thau adds. "That is why working with a doctor of optometry is so important."

Before you head home with a new pair of frames, the experts recommend testing out the glasses in-store to make sure they have a comfortable fit. "Look in the mirror — ensure that the glasses do not look crooked on your face. Look down to read a book or a phone; make sure that the glasses are not sliding down your nose," Dr. Hazien says. "Make sure that you can properly see through the reading and distance portion of the lenses if they are progressives or bifocals — a loose fit can lead to looking through the wrong portion of the lenses and having blurry vision."

Try moving your head around while wearing the glasses too. "A pair of glasses that are properly fit and adjusted should stay on your face if you bend over to put shoes on but should not be so tight as to fog up or feel like goggles," Dunphy adds. "It's a happy balance between the two, and every person has their own preference"

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