Sunglasses built for Asian Faces: Fit Guide 01

If sunglasses have never quite fit right, keep sliding down, rest on your cheeks, sit too close to your face; you just had to deal with it.

You shouldn't have to. The frames are the problem, not your facial structure.

The Geometry Problem

Most frames aren't built for you.

The whole sunglasses category is designed around a standard face shape -- and it isn't yours.

Mainstream eyewear is built for a high nose bridge and a narrow face. When your bridge sits lower and your cheekbones sit higher, the frame has nowhere to rest — so your frames slide when you move. The frames will rest on your cheeks, and may even lift off your nose bridge when you talk or smile.

For years the answer was "adjust" or accepting "this is just how it is".

We had to keep pushing up the frames and get used to it. That was never a real answer.

The Retrofit Problem

Why "Asian fit" from Other Brands don't work

Most "Asian fit" sunglasses are standard frames with bigger nose pads bolted on after the fact. It's an after-thought, not a proper design.

The bridge position, frame angle, and frame curve are still built for the default face.

Bigger Pads on a standard frame.
Same tilt. Same curve. Same geometry.
Slightly better - rarely actually fixed.

What to actually look for

The three things that change fit.

If you're shopping, these are the measurable design choices that separate a frame that fits you, versus one that just claims to. Remember, ALL three design changes work together to ensure the frames properly fit your face.

Adjustable Fit

Frames should have adjustability in their nose pads

Whether the nose pads are adjustable or interchangeable, you should have a choice for nose pad height to dial in your fit.

Journey offers 3 sizes (thickness in small, medium, large) included with each frame.

7° to 10°

Pantoscopic Tilt, aka, Frame to Temple angle

Standard sunglasses average around 15°. The higher the angle, the closer the bottom of the frames are to your face, the further the top of your frames are from your eyebrows.

Journey uses a 7° to 10° angle, depending on the style. We design the frames to sit close to your face to provide an optimal amount of sun coverage and protection, without touching your face.

This angle, combined with our nose pads, also ensures your eyelashes don't touch the lenses.

Base Curve

Base Curve, aka, frame wrap

The higher the number, the more curved the frame. The lower the number, the flatter the frame.

Most sports performance frames have a 6 to 8 base — which is wrapped to fit deep facial profiles. More casual styles may feature a 4 to 6 base curve.

Journey features flatter 4 to 5 base curve frames to ensure space between your cheekbones and the bottom of the frames.

Same Face. Theirs vs Journey's

Shot in the same light, same angle, so you can see exactly how each one sits on a real low bridge.

Other Brand Aviator style

Frames are:
- Too close to the face
- Already touching cheeks at rest
- Lashes touching lenses
- Nose pads aren't even touching nose bridge due to cheek contact

Journey Optics aviator: "Miramar"

Frames:
- Proper distance from brow and cheeks
- Nose pads properly resting on nose bridge
- Lashes aren't touching lenses
- Frames don't lift off face when talking or smiling

Common Questions

Answered Honestly.

Q.01

What are the best sunglasses for a low nose bridge?

Frames engineered for a low bridge from the start — with adjustable bridge lift, corrected frame angle, and a flatter wrap — rather than standard frames relabeled "Asian fit" with just one or two design changes.

All three design differences into one frame is what makes them sit right and stay put for your facial features.

Q.02

Are "Asian fit" and "low bridge fit" the same thing?

The two terms are generally interchangeable. While the larger sunglass industry coined the term "Asian fit" a few decades ago, their design primarily featured larger nose pads and they called it good.

Currently, brands that have intentionally designed their frames to be "low bridge fit" are likely to have actually designed their frames to fit from the ground up.

Regardless of what the fit is called, make sure to note 1) pantoscopic tilt; 2) frame base curve; and 3) nose pads adjustability and nose pad width; when shopping for sunglasses that'll fit your face.

Q.03

How do I know if I have a low nose bridge?

Put on any standard sunglasses and see if they pass your fit tests.

Test 1 - the jump test: jump up and down a few times while looking straight forward. If the frames slide down your nose, likely the nose bridge and nose pads aren't made for your nose bridge.

Test 2 - rockstar test: gently rock your head back and forth (commonly known as headbanging). If they slide within a cycle or two, it's likely because the nose pads aren't a proper fit.

Test 3 - smile test: fit the frames on your face as you'd regularly wear them. Smile! If the bottom of the frames touch your cheeks, or if the frames lift off your nose bridge, it could mean the frame angle, nose pads, or frame curvature aren't made for you.

Test 4 - just put them on. If at rest, the frames are already touching your cheeks, you already know the frames don't fit your face.

Q.04

Do Journey frames fit high cheekbones too?

Yes. The corrected frame angle and adjustable lift keep the lenses off high cheekbones, which is part of the same fit problem. The 60-day fit guarantee applies either way.

Not Sure Where To Start?