Sunglasses for a low nose bridge: how to find a pair that doesn't sit on your cheeks

Short answer: With a low or flat nose bridge, standard frames often sit too low: the lenses rest on your cheeks, touch your lashes or leave red marks when you smile. Look for frames with adjustable nose pads (usually metal frames), shallower lenses, a light frame and a frame width close to your face width. Round, oval, wayfarer and small, slim frames are usually the easiest to wear. Check the fit with a quick smile test and look at the size in millimetres before you buy.

What is a low nose bridge?

The nose bridge is the part of your nose between your eyes, where sunglasses rest. A low nose bridge sits closer to the level of your eyes and is often flatter or less projected. It is very common – across many backgrounds, in children and adults alike – and often comes together with high cheekbones. There is nothing to "fix" about it; most sunglasses are simply designed around a higher bridge.

Signs your sunglasses don't fit a low bridge

• The frame rests on your cheeks. You see red marks on your cheeks after a while, or the frame lifts when you smile.
• Your lashes touch the lenses. The lenses sit too close to your eyes, so your lashes brush them and leave smudges.
• The frame slides down. The bridge never really "lands" on your nose, so the frame slips and you keep pushing it up. Our guide to sunglasses that keep slipping has more fixes.
• Your eyes sit high in the lenses. Your pupils should sit roughly in the middle of each lens, not near the top edge.

What does "low bridge fit" or "Asian fit" mean?

"Low bridge fit" – often searched as "Asian fit" – describes frames adapted for a low or flat nose bridge and higher cheekbones. Typical adjustments are higher or thicker nose pads, a slightly different lens tilt and shallower lenses, so the frame sits higher and further from the face. The label is not about where you come from: anyone with a low bridge or high cheekbones can benefit, and many regular frames fit well too if you know what to look for.

What helps: 5 things to look for

1. Adjustable nose pads. This is the most effective feature. Pads on small arms can be moved closer together or further apart, which raises or lowers the frame on your nose. Most metal frames have them; most plastic frames have a fixed, moulded bridge. An optician can usually adjust pads in a few minutes.
2. Shallower lenses. The deeper the lens, the sooner its lower edge reaches your cheeks. Oval, round and slim shapes usually have less lens height than large square or deep aviator lenses.
3. A light frame. A lighter frame puts less weight on your nose, so it stays where it should and leaves fewer marks.
4. The right frame width. A frame about as wide as your face rests on your nose and ears without pinching. If it is too wide, it drops lower on a low bridge; see our guide to sunglasses for small faces if most frames feel too big.
5. A bridge that matches your nose. On a fixed bridge, the second number on the temple (for example 54□17-146) is the bridge width in mm. Compare it with a pair that already sits well – a fixed bridge that is too wide for your nose will sit lower.

Our guide on how to measure sunglasses shows you where to find and compare each number.

The quick fit test

1. Smile. If the frame lifts or presses into your cheeks, it sits too low.
2. Blink. Your lashes should not touch the lenses.
3. Look down. Lean your head forward a little – the frame should stay in place.
4. Wait ten minutes. No red marks on your cheeks or the sides of your nose.

Shapes that work for a low nose bridge

• Round and oval: Soft, usually shallower lenses that stay clear of the cheeks. Browse our round sunglasses and oval sunglasses.
• Wayfarer: A medium lens height and a classic shape that suits most faces.
• Metal frames with nose pads: The easiest way to get the height right, because the pads can be adjusted.
• Small, slim frames: Less lens height and less weight – a good choice for narrower faces.

Be careful with large oversized frames and deep aviator lenses: they look great on many people, but they are the first to touch the cheeks on a low bridge. If you also want a frame that balances a prominent nose, see our guide to sunglasses for a big nose.

Men and women

The fit rules are the same for everyone. Men often need a slightly wider frame (around 138–142 mm), while many women and people with narrower faces are more comfortable at 130–137 mm. Start from your face width, then choose the shape and colour you like.

ECO SHADES picks for a low nose bridge

Dyhr and Vang are made from recycled metal and have adjustable silicone nose pads. Dahl, Bono and Venturi are made from 100% recycled plastics with 5-barrel optical hinges and friction-lock screws. All have UV400 lenses in recycled PMMA.

• Dyhr Grey Red: the featured pair – a recycled-metal frame with adjustable nose pads, so the height can be set for your nose. 56□17-138, frame width 140 mm, Medium/Large, Category 3.
• Vang Gold Green: a thin round frame in recycled metal, also with adjustable nose pads. 50□22-138, frame width 135 mm, Small/Medium, Category 3.
• Dahl Grey: an oval frame with a 17 mm bridge and shallow lenses. 54□17-146, frame width 137 mm, Medium, Category 3.
• Bono Grey: a small, slim frame with low lens height for narrower faces. 49□20-140, frame width 131 mm, Small/Medium, Category 3.
• Venturi Blue: our wayfarer shape with a 19 mm bridge and a medium lens height. 51□19-143, frame width 137 mm, Medium, Category 3.

Want to compare more frames? Browse all our sunglasses and check the size of each pair. Our lenses are not polarised. Questions about fit or sizes? Just contact us.

Quick FAQ

Why do my sunglasses sit on my cheeks?

Usually because the bridge of the frame sits too low on your nose, often combined with deep lenses or high cheekbones. Adjustable nose pads or shallower lenses solve this in most cases.

Should sunglasses touch your cheeks?

No. Sunglasses should rest on your nose and ears only. If they touch your cheeks, especially when you smile, they sit too low.

What is low bridge fit?

Frames adapted for a low or flat nose bridge, usually with higher nose pads, shallower lenses and a slightly different tilt, so they sit higher and further from the face.

Can an optician adjust sunglasses for a low nose bridge?

If the frame has adjustable nose pads, yes – usually in a few minutes. A fixed plastic bridge can't be raised, so choose the right shape and size from the start.

Every ECO SHADES pair comes with UV400 lenses and a 2-year warranty, and our sunglasses are CE, UKCA and FDA approved. We have 30 years of optical experience and 20,000+ happy customers behind our designs. Find the frame that sits right on your nose – and enjoy the sun without red marks.