A frame holds eyeglass lenses in position. Frames come in various styles, sizes, materials and prices. Common parts include the front, eye wires, bridge, end pieces, hinges and temples. Popular materials are plastic, metal and composites. Plastics include cellulose acetate and polycarbonate. Metals include monel and titanium alloys. Composites combine advantages of plastic and metal.

1. FRAMES
Types, Parts & Materials

2. FRAME
 A FRAME is that portion of a pair of spectacles
designed to hold the lenses in the proper
position before the eyes.
 Modern eyeglass frames are available in a
huge variety of styles, sizes, and materials.
 New materials and design technology have
made frames more lightweight and
comfortable.
 Good quality frames are now available in all
price ranges, too.

4. FRAME Parts
 Although ophthalmic frames come in a variety
of styles, sizes, shapes, and colors, they
usually have basic parts in common.
 Frame front: Front part of the eyeglass frame
that holds the lenses in place and bridges the
top of the nose.
 Eye wires (rims): Part of the frame front into
which the lenses are inserted.

5. FRAME Parts
 Bridge: The area between the lenses that goes over the
nose and supports 90 percent of the weight of the
eyeglasses.
 A keyhole bridge is shaped like an old-fashioned keyhole
and rests on the sides of the upper part of the nose. This
style is for those with small or flat nose bridges.
 A saddle bridge is shaped like a saddle and spreads the
weight of the frame across the sides and the top of the nose.
This style works well for heavy glasses or for those who are
sensitive to pressure.
 An adjustable bridge includes nose pads that can be
adjusted for fit and comfort.
 A double bridge has a reinforcing bar over the top of the
bridge.

6. FRAME Parts

7. Frame Parts
 End pieces: Extensions of the frame front to
which the temples are attached.
 Hinges: Part of the frame that connects the
frame front to the temples and allows the
temples to swing.
 Temples: Parts of the frame that extend over
and/or behind the ears to help hold the frame
in place.

8. Frame Parts
 Temples: Parts of the frame that extend over
and/or behind the ears to help hold the frame in
place.
 Skull temples are the most popular for plastic
frames. They are bent down slightly over the ear
and follow the contour of the skull.
 Comfort-cable temples hook behind the ear with
a flexible metal cable and are good for children's
glasses and for sport safety glasses.
 Riding bow temples are similar to comfort-
cables, except they are rigid and made of plastic.

9. Frame Parts
 Spring-hinged temples include hidden
springs in the hinges that help keep the frame
from slipping. They are sometimes more
expensive, but usually more resistant to
breakage.
 Library (or paddle) temples are straight, so
they can be slipped on and off easily. They are
often used in reading glasses.

10. Temples

11. Frame Parts
 Nose pads: Plastic pieces that may be
attached directly to the frame or to pad arms.
They help keep the frame in its proper
position.
 Pad arms: Attachments that hold the nose
pads in place and allow adjustments to help
conform to the patient's bridge.
 Top bar: A reinforcing bar that crosses the top
of the glasses on some metal frames, popular
in aviator glasses.

12. Frame Parts
 Temple tips: Plastic coatings that often cover
the ends of the temples behind and/or over the
ears.
 Rimless frames (or mountings): The
temples and bridge attach by mountings
directly to the lenses without the use of
eyewires or rims.

13. Frame Types
 Eyeglass frames can be grouped into three
basic types full, half-rimless, and rimless.
 A full eyeglass frame has a frame that
completely encircles the lens.
 In a half-rimless eyeglass frame there is no
frame on the bottom or top of the lens.
 Most half-rimless frame styles have the frame
on the top of the lens, but some half frames
have the frame on the bottom.

14. Frame Types
 Half-rimless eyeglass frames that are rimless
on top are usually for reading, and they are
called half-eye frames (the lens sits low on
your nose and the top of the lens is flat, so it
looks like half a lens).

15. Frame Types
 RIMLESS EYEGLASSES
 Rimless eyeglass frames have no frame at all
around the lens.
 Rimless eyeglasses come in three pieces
(two temples and the nose part).
 The lenses are actually part of the strength of
the frame, so it is important to only use
polycarbonate or Trivex or high index lens
material on rimless glasses.

16. Frame Types
 Mounting lenses into rimless eyeglass frames
is tricky and requires a skilled and experienced
technician.
 Each lens must be drilled perfectly so that the
frame fits snugly into the lens.
 Poorly mounted rimless eyeglasses will begin
to rattle, and can eventually crack the lens.

17. HALF-RIMLESS EYEGLASSES
 A half-rimless eyeglasses frame design has a
rim on part of the frames eye holding a lens,
usually on the top half.
A modern pair of prescription glasses with
a half rim design.

18. HALF-RIMLESS EYEGLASSES
 In most cases the bottom part of the lens is
held in place by a nylon cord, but some frames
are drill mounted so the cord is not necessary.
 The frame on a half-rimless frame is most
commonly on the top of the lens, although
occasionally it is located on the bottom of the
lens.

19. Frame Types
 READING GLASSES
 Eyeglasses frames that hold lenses that are used
only for reading (near vision).
 A reading lens simply magnifies objects that are
close to us, like the letters in a book.
 Reading glasses are becoming very fashionable,
and many designer eyeglass frames are now
made as reading glasses.
 Or, you can customize a pair of regular
prescription designer eyeglass frames just by
adding reading lenses to them.

20. Frame Types
 COMPUTER GLASSES
 Computer glasses refers to any pair of eyeglasses
frames with lenses that have a focal length set at
arms length, and with anti-reflective (AR) coating.
 The wearer needs to measure the average
distance from his/her face to the computer screen,
and give that measurement to the eye doctor.
 The anti-reflective coating helps to reduce the
glare that may come off of the computer screen.

21. EYEGLASS FRAME SHAPES
 There are thousands of subtle differences
among eyeglass frame shapes, but there are
two basic shapes, oval and rectangular.
 Whether a frame is basically rectangular or
oval is in the eye of the beholder.
 There are thousands of gradations and
subtleties, and in the end it really does not
matter what you call a frames shape, it is
whether you like it on your face or not that
matters.

22. EYEGLASS FRAME SHAPES
 Rectangular frames are somewhat squared off
in their appearance.
 Modified rectangles are rectangles with
softened corners.
 Oval frames have curves rather than lines in
the outline.
 Most designer eyeglass frames are either
round or oval shapes.

23. Frames Materials
 The materials used in the production of
modern eyeglass frames are:
 Plastic
 Metal
 composites (a combination of the two)

24.  Manufacturers select materials that are:
 Cost effective
 Adjust easily
 Offer safety and workability
 Hold the lenses properly
 Resist breakage
 Corrosion
 Heat.

25. Frames Materials
 Here are brief descriptions of popular
frame materials.
 Plastics
 Cellulose acetate (zylonite): The most
commonly used plastic in eyeglass frames,
cellulose acetate is relatively inexpensive,
easy to work with, and comes in a wide variety
of colors, textures, and patterns.
 The material is easily adjusted but tends to get
brittle with age.

26. Frames Materials
 Plastics
 Cellulose proprionate: This is a lightweight
material that can be injection molded making it
ideal for intricate designs.
 Care must be taken when heating and
adjusting frames made of this material
because it will shrink and ruin with
overheating.

27. Frames Materials
 Plastics
 Kevlar: Developed by DuPont for use in
bulletproof vests, this plastic can withstand
high impact such as that experienced in
sporting events.
 The material is limited because it will not
shrink or stretch, and it comes in few colors.

28. Frames Materials
 Plastics
 Nylon: Many sports and safety glasses are
made of nylon because it is virtually
unbreakable and relatively lightweight.
 The material is, however, difficult to adjust and
can be manufactured only in darker colors.
 It can also become brittle over time.

29. Frames Materials
 Plastics
 Optyl:
 This material is somewhat lighter in weight
than cellulose acetate and is hypoallergenic,
an advantage to skin-sensitive patients.
 Frames made of optyl are more difficult to
adjust because the material can return to its
original molded shape, and the frames may
break easily if not heated properly.

30. Frames Materials
 Plastics
 Polycarbonate: Polycarbonate is 10 times
more impact-resistant than conventional
plastic or glass and is the material of choice for
children's, sports, and safety glasses.
 Polycarbonate lenses are thinner and lighter
than conventional plastic or glass lenses, and
the material comes with built-in ultraviolet
protection.

31. Frames Materials
 Metals
 Aluminum: Although very lightweight,
aluminum is difficult to solder or weld, limiting
its adaptability to different designs.

32. Frames Materials
 Metals
 Monel: Monel is one of the most popular
materials used in metal frames because it can
be hammered into many shapes without losing
its strength.
 It can also be made in various colors.

33. Frames Materials
 Metals
 Cobalt: Usually used as part of a metal alloy,
cobalt appears in high-quality frames that can
be made lightweight, durable, flexible, and
thin.
 It can also be successfully coated with a
variety of colors, but is very expensive and
consequently limited in use.

34. Frames Materials
 Metals
 Nickel silver: This is a common material used
in hinges, end pieces, and heavy bridges, and
for the inner core of temples.
 It is more brittle than several other metals,
making it less suited to the slender frames so
popular today.

35. Frames Materials
 Metals
 Phosphor bronze: This flexible alloy is about
95 percent copper, making it a good choice for
temples.
 Stainless steel: Stainless steel is one of the
most corrosion-resistant metals, but is difficult
to work with in the manufacturing process.
 Trilam: This product is lightweight, however it
has a memory, which can make frame
adjustments difficult.

36. Frames Materials
 Composites
 Carbon fiber graphite (CFG): CFG is a
material made of nylon and carbon that
provides the endurance of metal frames but is
thin and lightweight.
 Although the material is black in its natural
state, it is now available in a wide range of
colors.

37. Frames Materials
 Composites
 Copolyamide (MXP7): This material is a
blend of nylon manufactured for frame-
injection molding.
 The material is strong, lightweight, and
durable, and it retains its shape unless heated.

38. Frames Materials
 Composites
 Flexon7: Flexon7 is a proprietary material
made from a titanium-based alloy with a high
"memory" factor that enables a twisted frame
to return to its original shape.
 In addition to making frames extremely
durable, the Flexon material holds adjustments
longer and is lighter in weight than traditional
metal frames.

39. Frames Materials
 Composites
 Titanium Ti-227: Titanium Ti-227 is nearly 50
percent lighter than most metal frame
materials.

40. Frames Materials
 Composites
 It is hypoallergenic, noncorrosive, and one-
third stronger than steel, making it an
extremely desirable material for manufacturing
frames.
 It's also difficult and expensive to extract and
refine this abundant material.