For many frames in the Edel-Optics shop, you can use the virtual try-on to see on screen how a pair of glasses looks on your face, like a fitting room for your eyes. This guide explains how to try glasses on virtually, what to look out for, where virtual try-on reaches its limits and how the frame measurements help you pick the right size.
Key points at a glance
- A virtual try-on shows you how the shape, colour and proportions of a frame suit your face. It can’t show you how the glasses feel or how heavy they are.
- For a realistic picture: bright, even light from the front, camera at eye level, and turn your head to the side as well.
- Compare the numbers on the arm (lens width, bridge width, arm length) with a pair of glasses that already fits you well.
- If the glasses don’t fit in real life, you can send them back under our right of return.
Try on glasses online: how virtual try-on works
With a virtual try-on, software places a digital model of the frame over your face. Most tools use the camera on your phone, tablet or computer: you see yourself live wearing the glasses and can turn your head as you would in front of a mirror. Some tools also work with a photo.
This means you can try on glasses at home: try out several frames online, from eyeglasses to sunglasses, and compare them at your own pace without going to a shop. Before the camera starts, your browser will ask for permission to access it. How images are processed during the try-on is explained in the shop’s privacy policy.
Which glasses suit me? Start with your face shape
Trying on is quicker if you already know which shapes generally suit you. As a rule of thumb, the frame should contrast with your face shape: round faces suit angular frames, square faces suit soft curves. You can find out how to work out your face shape in our guide What glasses suit my face?.
In the shop you can also filter by face shape, frame shape and frame size.
What to look out for during a virtual try-on
- Light: Sit in bright, even light, ideally daylight from the front. A window behind you and harsh shadows distort the picture.
- Camera at eye level: Hold your phone or position your laptop so the camera is roughly level with your eyes, and look straight into it. From below or above, the frame looks distorted.
- Clear view of your face: Push your hair off your forehead and take off your own glasses, as long as you can still see the screen well without them.
- Size in proportion: The frame should be about as wide as the widest part of your face. Your eyes should sit roughly in the centre of the lenses, and the top of the frame should more or less follow your eyebrows.
- Bridge width: Whether the bridge sits comfortably on your nose only becomes clear when you wear the glasses. So check the bridge width, especially if you have a narrow or low nose bridge.
- From the side too: Turn your head slowly to the left and right to see how the arms look and how the glasses look in profile.
- Compare: Try on several frames one after the other, take screenshots and put them side by side. A second opinion from friends often helps more than trying a tenth frame.
Every screen shows colours slightly differently, so also check the product photos for the exact shade.
Trying on sunglasses and sports glasses online
Trying on sunglasses online works the same way as with any other eyewear. Tinted and mirrored lenses look different on screen than they do outside in the sun, though. Check the product description for the UV protection (for example UV400) and the filter category. With sports glasses, a secure fit matters most, and no on-screen try-on can show you that. Pay particular attention to the arm length and the total width.
Limits of virtual try-on: what the screen can’t show
A virtual try-on helps you narrow down your choice, but it doesn’t replace wearing the glasses. You’ll only notice these points in real life:
- Fit: whether the glasses press on your temples, slip down your nose or sit well behind your ears.
- Weight and material: how light or heavy the frame feels and how acetate, metal or titanium feel on your skin.
- Exact size: what you see is an approximation. With glasses, even a few millimetres make a visible difference.
So use the try-on mainly for shape, colour and proportions. For the fit, the measurements are your best guide.
Check the measurements: what the numbers on the arm mean
Most glasses have three numbers printed on the inside of the arm or on the frame, for example 52□18 140. The first number on the left is the lens width, the middle one is the bridge width and the last one is the arm length, all in millimetres.
| Measurement | What it describes | What to look for |
|---|---|---|
| Lens width (e.g. 52) | width of one lens at its widest point | together with the bridge, it determines how wide the glasses look |
| Bridge width (e.g. 18) | distance between the lenses above your nose | too narrow: the glasses pinch or sit too high; too wide: they slip |
| Arm length (e.g. 140) | length of the arm from the hinge to the tip | too short: presses behind the ears; too long: doesn’t hold well |
| Total width | width of the whole frame front | roughly as wide as your face at temple level |
Here’s how: take a pair of glasses that fits you well, read off its measurements and compare them with the details of the new frame. If the values differ by only one or two millimetres, the new glasses will usually fit similarly. No glasses to hand? Use a ruler to measure the width of your face at temple level. In the shop, the frame size filter also helps.
Miu Miu MU 01XV VAU1O1£134.56
Miu Miu MU 09XV VAU1O1£134.56
Miu Miu MU 04UV 1AB1O1£134.56
Miu Miu MU 01XV 19P1O1£134.24
Ray-Ban RX3928V 2501£86.92
Ray-Ban RX3928V 2500£86.92
Ray-Ban ALAIN (RX7239 2001)£60.29
Miu Miu MU 09XV 16K1O1£135.40After the try-on: ordering and your right of return
Once you’ve found your favourite, order it in the shop as usual. If the glasses don’t sit well or you don’t like them in real life, you can send them back under our right of return. You’ll find the details in the returns conditions in the shop.
If a frame only pinches slightly, an optician can often adjust the arms or nose pads to make it fit better. You can read more about buying glasses on the internet in Buying glasses online: is it really possible?.
Frequently asked questions about virtual try-on
Can I try on glasses online with a photo?
Many virtual try-on tools use the camera, and some also work with a photo. For a good result, you need a picture taken from the front, at eye level, in even light and without glasses.
What if the virtual try-on doesn’t work?
First check that your browser is allowed to access the camera, and close any other programs currently using it, such as video calls. Then reload the page or try an up-to-date browser or another device. If it still doesn’t work, the product photos and measurements will help you choose.
