Wearing glasses can take some getting used to if you’ve never worn them before. Many people who are new to wearing glasses find that they hurt their nose after extended periods wearing the glasses. Fortunately, there are some things you can do to stop your glasses from hurting your nose.
What Causes Glasses to Hurt Your Nose?
Before delving into how to prevent your glasses from hurting your nose, it’s important to understand first what might be causing that pain. The method that you should use depends on what is causing the pain in the first place.
Your Glasses Sit Too Low on Your Nose
Glasses sitting too low on the nose is one of the most common causes of nose pain. The nose pads are spaced to fit around the narrowest part of your nose. If you wear your glasses further down on the nose, then the pads will be too tight and can cause skin irritation.
Your Glasses Are Too Heavy
If your glasses are too heavy, they can cause pain even if you wear your glasses properly on your nose. Heavy glasses can weigh on the nose and cause pain. If you notice indentations from your glasses’ nose pads, then there’s a good chance your glasses are too heavy.
Your Skin Is Dry or Sensitive
If you have sensitive or dry skin on your nose, the nose pads of your glasses can further irritate the skin.
Your Glasses Don’t Have Nose Pads
Some types of glasses, particularly those made of plastic, may not come with nose pads. Plastic sitting directly on your skin may cause irritation or pain if they either aren’t worn properly or if they’re not fitted right. Alternatively, for some people, the nose pads themselves are what is causing the pain and therefore glasses without nose pads are better.
Your Glasses Aren’t Fitted Properly
If you order glasses through your eye doctor, part of your appointment will involve measuring your face so that the glasses you purchase will fit correctly. However, because there are so many different places to purchase glasses, including online, some people get the prescription for the lenses from their eye doctor and then order the frames themselves. If you do this, you may run the risk of the glasses not being properly fitted to your face, which could cause nose pain.
How Can You Prevent Your Glasses from Hurting Your Nose?
Once you’ve determined what might be causing your glasses to hurt your nose, then you can take the necessary steps to address the problem. There might be some trial and error, however, since there are multiple possible causes of nose pain with glasses.
Try Different Nose Pads
Not every type of nose pad is going to work for every single person. If you’re wearing your glasses correctly and the nose pads still hurt your nose, try swapping them out for a different kind. There are different materials, shapes, and sizes that may work better for you. Another option is to try glasses without nose pads altogether. Ask your eye doctor for advice on what nose pads may work better for you.
If you can’t find nose pads that work for you, you may want to try making your own. You would just need to make sure that they adhered properly to your glasses so that they could still do the job of holding your glasses in place.
Care for the Skin on Your Nose
Petroleum jelly, also known as vaseline, or even some non-scented lip balm, could help to relieve the pain. Rub some vaseline on the spots where your glasses’ nose pads come into contact with your nose. This can help if the pain is caused by friction between your glasses and your nose by adding a bit of extra lubrication.
Another option is to try lotion. If the skin on your nose is dry or sensitive, then there may be lotions that can help sooth that irritation. Makeup can be an irritant as well, so it might be a good idea to avoid using it where the nose pads of your glasses meet your nose.
Try Different Frames
It may not be the nose pads that are the problem, but the glasses themselves. The frames may not be right for your face or they may just be too heavy. If this is the case, no matter how much you swap out or adjust the nose pads, the glasses may still hurt your nose. You should try different frames to see if a different type works better for your face.
Wear Your Glasses Properly
Because glasses, especially those that are professionally fitted, are designed to fit on your face in one location, it’s important to wear them in that location. If your glasses are hurting your nose, it may be because you’re wearing them too low. Wearing them where they’re supposed to be will ease that pain.
Try Wearing Contact Lenses
Glasses and contact lenses each have their pros and cons. If you’re finding that glasses hurt your nose and nothing you’ve tried has alleviated that pain, then switching to contact lenses may be your best option.
Talk to Your Eye Doctor
If you find that your glasses are hurting your nose, it’s a good idea to talk to your eye doctor. They may be able to check your glasses to make sure they’re sized and fitted correctly for you. They may also have some recommendations for swapping out the nose pads or creating your own if necessary. They can also look at how you’re wearing the glasses to make sure they’re seated properly.
