Spectacle Frame Types

Question 1

Frame types

Answer 1

described by materials, feature of parts, function (reading or safety), fashion, mass produced, hand made

Question 2

Specific Named Materials

Answer 2

• can be v specific e.g. cellulose acetate (plastic)
• describes main material only, can have other components
• can have alternate descriptions (with much more detail)
• could be mix of materials with no deteails available
• frame industry not v open about details

Question 3

Handmade frames

Answer 3

• bespoke, unique, one off
• implies something special and exclusive
• sustainable and natural materials used eg wood, horn
• made for unusual facial features/measurements
• controversy- handmade frames may have greater error (tolerance) but perfection not necessarily point of handmade frame

Question 4

Plastic Frame

Metal Frames

Combination Frames

Answer 4

• mostly made from plastic. pad bridges, regular bridges, keyhole pad bridges (helpful if bridge of nose v low), inset regular bridge (usually handmade)
• mostly made from metal. rocking pads on arms, brow bar, insert bridges, twinned pad, regular keyhole, fixed pad, regular, W bridge (wire that follows contour of nose)
• front has major parts made from metal and plastic

Question 5

Frame or Mount?

Answer 5

prescense of slides is irrelevant in definition- it goes all way around lens
nylon upra mount (half a frame), polymil mount, rimless mounts

Question 6

Frames by purpose

Answer 6

hearing aid frames, folding frames, reversible frames, make-up frames

Question 7

Frame Shapes

Answer 7

round, pantoscopic round oval, regular Quandra, contour, aviator, half-eye, for reading, oval, octag or octon, upswept

Question 8

Frames for children

Answer 8

• faces develop throughout childhood especially nose shape- splay angle, bridge height
• similiar (but different) fitting problems apply to those with conditions such as Down’s syndrome
• twinned pad and fixed bridges and relatively curl side, ocasionally see loop-end or headband types (usually on specs for babies)

Question 9

Parts & Sides

Future of frames?

Answer 9

use correct names/ terms
-metal frame parts: front vs side, bridge, brow bar, closing block, drop, groove, joint, pad, pad arm, rim, screw
-plastic frame parts: front vs side, bridge (pad vs keyhole), groove, joint, rim
Sides: curl, drop-end or hockey, sinuous drop-end, loop end, straight

Customised frames using 3D printing in future?