High bridge glasses can mean two things: frames that suit a high nose bridge, and frames with a raised fit for a low nose bridge. This guide explains the difference, what High Bridge Fit means, how to read the bridge width and how to stop your glasses from slipping, whether your nose bridge is high, low or wide.
Key points at a glance
- The bridge connects the two lenses and carries much of the weight. Its width is the middle number on the temple arm, for example 18 in “52□18 140”.
- A high nose bridge suits most frames, including acetate frames with a fixed bridge. With a wide nose bridge, look for a wider bridge or adjustable nose pads.
- High Bridge Fit, Low Bridge Fit and the older term Asian Fit all describe frames with raised nose rests for a low nose bridge.
- Lightweight frames and soft silicone pads slip less. Have every new pair adjusted by an optician.
High bridge glasses: what the terms mean
The bridge is the part of the frame that connects the two lenses and rests on your nose. Acetate frames usually have a fixed bridge that sits directly on the nose, while metal frames usually have nose pads on small adjustable metal arms. Your nose bridge, on the other hand, is the upper part of your nose between your eyes. How high and wide it is determines which frames fit.
The position of the bridge on the frame matters too: a high bridge sits near the top of the frame, a low bridge further down. Frames with a bar at the top and a second bridge in the middle have a double bridge, a classic feature of aviators.
High nose bridge or low nose bridge: what’s the difference?
A high nose bridge is prominent between the eyes and starts roughly at or above the level of your pupils. A low nose bridge sits lower and is flatter. Low nose bridges are common among people of every background, and in children, whose noses are still developing.
A quick check: put on your glasses and smile. If they lift, they are resting on your cheeks. If your eyelashes touch the lenses or the frame keeps sliding down, you probably have a low nose bridge or the bridge of the frame is too wide.
| Feature | High nose bridge | Low nose bridge |
|---|---|---|
| Typical fit | Glasses stay in place well | Glasses sit low, slip or rest on the cheeks |
| What works well | almost any bridge style, including acetate frames with a fixed bridge | adjustable nose pads, Low Bridge Fit models, lightweight frames |
| What to watch | bridge not too wide, or the frame sits too low | enough space between frame, cheeks and lashes |
Glasses for a high nose bridge: what fits best
With a high nose bridge, most frames sit well because your nose gives them plenty of support. What matters most is the bridge width: too wide and the frame drops lower, too narrow and it sits too high and can press. The best glasses for a high nose bridge are frames whose bridge rests evenly on your nose without gaps:
- Acetate frames with a fixed bridge work well if the bridge shape matches your nose.
- Metal frames with adjustable nose pads can be fine-tuned to almost any nose.
- Saddle bridge glasses have a smooth, evenly curved bridge without pads that sits on the nose like a saddle and spreads the weight over a larger area. They suit you if the curve matches the shape of your nose.
High bridge sunglasses and reading glasses
Whether you are looking for high bridge eyeglasses or sunglasses for a high nose bridge, the same rules apply. Aviators and many other metal sunglasses have adjustable pads, while with acetate sunglasses it is worth checking the bridge width. High bridge reading glasses follow the same principle: the better the bridge fits, the more steadily the lenses sit in front of your eyes.
What is High Bridge Fit? Low Bridge Fit and Asian Fit explained
High Bridge Fit is a special fit that some brands offer for people with a low nose bridge. Depending on the manufacturer, it is called High Bridge Fit, Low Bridge Fit or, in the past, Asian Fit. The meaning is the same: the nose pads are higher or thicker, and the front is often shaped or angled slightly differently. As a result, high bridge fit glasses and sunglasses sit higher, with more space between the lenses, your cheeks and your lashes.
The names sound contradictory, but they describe two sides of the same idea: “Low Bridge” refers to your nose, “High Bridge” to the raised nose rest of the frame. The term Asian Fit comes from the fact that this fit was first developed mainly for markets in Asia. As low nose bridges are common among people of every background, neutral names such as Low Bridge Fit are now taking over. If your favourite model does not come in this fit, adjustable nose pads are the best alternative.
Glasses for a wide nose bridge
If your nose is wide at the top, a narrow bridge can press or make the glasses sit too high and wobble. Look for a wider bridge, from around 20 mm, or for adjustable nose pads that your optician can set further apart. A saddle bridge can also be comfortable because it rests on a larger area.
Adjustable nose pads or a fixed bridge?
Adjustable nose pads sit on small metal arms, so an optician can set their height, spacing and angle to fit your nose. As a rule of thumb: the closer together the pads, the higher the glasses sit, and the further apart, the lower. Pads come in hard plastic or soft, grippy silicone, and both can be replaced.
Glasses without nose pads, with a fixed acetate bridge, are easy to care for and often look cleaner. But they only fit well if the bridge suits the shape of your nose, as it can hardly be adjusted. For some models, an optician can add extra nose rests.
Bridge width, material and weight
How to read the frame size
Most frames have three numbers printed on the inside of a temple arm, for example “52□18 140”: lens width, bridge width and temple length in millimetres. Common bridge widths range from about 14 to 24 mm.
| Bridge width | Size | Often suits |
|---|---|---|
| 14–16 mm | narrow | narrower noses |
| 17–19 mm | medium | average nose width |
| 20 mm and more | wide | wide noses and a wide nose bridge |
The easiest way is to compare with a pair that fits you well. With adjustable nose pads, the bridge width matters less.
Material and weight
The lighter your glasses, the less they pull downwards and the less they press on your nose. Titanium, thin metal frames and lightweight plastics such as TR90 are good choices. Acetate is a little heavier, but robust and available in lots of colours. The lenses count too: smaller lenses weigh less, and for stronger prescriptions, thinner high-index lenses make glasses lighter.
Ray-Ban RX3928V 2501£86.92
Ray-Ban RX3928V 2500£86.92
Ray-Ban RX3768V 2500£68.54
Miu Miu MU 53WV ZVN1O1£147.13
Ray-Ban RX6355 2503£76.27
Ray-Ban RX3768V 2501£68.54
Miu Miu MU 53WV 1BC1O1£147.13
Emporio Armani EA1041 3094£72.88Glasses slipping? Tips for a better hold
- Check the size: the frame should be about as wide as your face, and the bridge should rest evenly on your nose.
- Use silicone pads: soft pads grip better than hard ones. Have old, hardened pads replaced.
- Have the temples adjusted: if the temple tips hug the back of your ears, your glasses stay put much better.
- Keep the nose rests clean: skin oil, make-up and sun cream make pads and bridges slippery. Wipe them regularly with lukewarm water and a drop of washing-up liquid.
- Extra help for sport: silicone temple sleeves or a glasses strap give additional hold.
Getting your glasses adjusted by an optician
Every new pair should be adjusted once. An optician sets the nose pads, bends the temples to fit behind your ears and aligns the tilt of the front. This usually only takes a few minutes, and many opticians also adjust glasses bought online.
For prescription glasses, the fit matters even more: the lenses are centred so that their optical centre sits in front of your pupils. If the frame slips lower later on, this alignment is no longer quite right, which is most noticeable with varifocals.
A high bridge as a style statement
The position of the bridge also changes how your nose looks. A high bridge leaves more of the nose visible below it, so a short nose looks longer. The effect is strongest with aviators and double bridge frames, which you can read more about in our article on double bridge glasses and cut-outs. A lower, darker or bolder bridge has the opposite effect and makes a long nose look shorter, while clear or very thin bridges hardly stand out.
To find out which frame shape suits you overall, read Which glasses frames suit my shape of face?
Frequently asked questions
What does High Bridge Fit mean?
High Bridge Fit describes frames with higher or thicker nose rests for people with a low nose bridge. The glasses sit higher and do not rest on the cheeks. Other names for the same fit are Low Bridge Fit and Asian Fit.
Can I adjust nose pads myself?
It is possible, but risky: the pad arms are thin and can break. An optician can set them correctly in a few minutes and replace worn pads if needed.
