You’ve visited every optician in town and still haven’t found that one pair of glasses that makes you say, “Wow”? You’re not alone! At Eyewear Bar, the search for the perfect frames is treated like an art form, with a unique, personalized approach that goes far beyond the usual.

Marie-Sophie Dion, a Quebec-based optician and designer of custom eyewear, is the creative mind behind Eyewear Bar. The concept’s success, and its recent expansion to six boutiques, is no accident. It’s largely thanks to word-of-mouth: happy clients wearing such distinctive frames that strangers stop them on the street to ask where they got them.

“Honestly, the first thing most people say when they walk in is, ‘I’ve been everywhere and found nothing,’” says Marie-Sophie Dion. “So I developed a technique to find right away the best frames for each person, by visualizing them before trying anything on.”

Unlike the traditional trial-and-error approach, Eyewear Bar starts with a vision, literally. The team envisions the ideal frame before you even try one on. It’s a custom process that considers factors most opticians overlook.

A Different Way to Choose Glasses

1. Start with Body Proportions, Not Face Shape

Surprise: it’s not about your face shape! Forget the old advice from magazines and style blogs, choosing frames based on face shape is a myth. Turns out, most of us have some version of an oval face anyway, so that “rule” isn’t exactly groundbreaking. The real magic happens when you look beyond the face shape and start focusing on what actually makes a pair of glasses work for you. Trust us, there’s a whole world of better-fitting, better-looking frames waiting once you ditch that outdated advice.

(Also read: The Great Myth? Eyeglasses According to Face Shape)

At the Eyewear Bar, the optician looks at your whole silhouette. A frame that suits someone who’s 6 feet tall might not work for someone who’s 5 feet tall. It’s all about balance.

2. The Nose: Where Every Great Pair of Glasses Begins

The journey to the perfect frame starts with your nose. Why? Because that’s where the glasses rest. The angle and width of the bridge need to match your nose’s shape exactly.

For example, flatter noses (common in many Asian facial structures) often need adjustable nose pads to keep the frames from sitting too low. A higher, wider nose might need more space between the lenses.

3. From Brows to Temples

 Next, the stylist imagines a line along your eyebrows to make sure they won’t be visible through the lenses. The top of the frame should follow this line. Then, they extend that line to the temples to determine where the arms of the glasses should sit, ideally straight and parallel to the ground.

(Also read: Eyebrows and Glasses: Key Rules for Choosing Frames that Harmonize with Your Face)

Finding the Perfect Lens Size: A Precise Science

Lens Width

Your eyes should be centered in the lenses. If the lenses are too narrow, your eyes look pushed outward (hello, hammerhead shark!). And when the lenses are too wide, it looks like you’re cross-eyed.

For strong nearsighted prescriptions, the lens should end near the outer corner of the eye to avoid the “bottom of a bottle” effect. For lighter prescriptions, the lens can extend a bit further.

Lens Height

Ideally, the lens should cover about half your cheek.

Pro tip: Want to hide dark circles? Go for slightly shorter lenses that subtly cover that area.

From 800 Pairs to Just a Few: The Power of Elimination

Once the ideal dimensions are mapped out, the optician can eliminate about 75% of the options, before even thinking about style or trends!

Only then comes the fun part: choosing the look.

Now that the perfect dimensions are locked in, it’s time to let your personality take the lead. Cat-eye, round, rectangular, what’s your vibe? The shape sets the mood, but don’t forget the frame’s vibe. A thick, dramatic outline says “look at me,” while a thinner one keeps things effortlessly understated. It’s your look, own it.

It’s All About the Method

Finding the perfect pair of glasses isn’t about luck, it’s about having the right method.

That’s why so many people leave the Eyewear Bar with frames that turn heads, and attract compliments!

So… What Frames Reveal Your Personality?

No two faces are the same, and every style deserves its perfect match. Now that you’ve got the inside scoop on how the pros do it, here’s the real question: do you really know which frames suit you best? What shape will highlight your features and reflect the personality you want to project?

Take our Eyewear Bar STYLE QUIZ to discover the frames that truly reflect your personality, in just a few clicks.

👉 Take the Style Quiz now and find the frames that feel like you.

Sincerely,

Marie-Sophie Dion