Fix and Fit

Universal Alignment

Alex Yoho, ABOM

Adjusting the frame when a patient comes in to pick up his or her new eyewear is what I call universal alignment. All that's usually needed is a bit of finessing the adjustment for the patient's irregularities.

FITTING THE BRIDGE

Make sure the lenses are in plane with one another. You may have to twist the bridge, and sometimes it's hard to tell when lenses have prism or strong cylinders. However, if you look at a reflection of light off the front surface of the lenses, you can twist back and forth until the reflections are even.

FACE FORM AND WRAP CHECKING

Make sure there is a smooth curve to the front without excessive wrap or skew in the bridge. Check for skew by placing the top of the eyewear on a table and hanging the front over the edge, pushing it gently against the table's edge and looking at the distance from each side of the bridge to the table.

If they are not even, bend one side of the bridge closer or further away from the table until both sides are even and you have the right amount of wrap in the frame. When you make this bend, be sure not to twist the bridge that you just straightened. Always double check since the frame's alignment depends on the bridge being perfect.

EVALUATING END PIECES

Where the temples join the front of the eyewear is the main area that will control the fit and level of the frame.

To begin, be sure that the temples rest evenly on the flat surface of the table. If not, bend an end piece (not the temple hinge) up or down to make it even. Then, flip the frame over with its bottom touching the table—and be sure the temple tips touch the table this way, too. If they don't, bend the tip up or down to match the other side. This ensures that the temple tip angle is even on both sides.

Next, make sure the temples extend evenly at about 90 degrees to the plane of the front. Place the top of the frame on the table with the front hanging off the edge. Then use the edge as the plane of the front, and the temples should form the sides of a perfect square.

Following these steps will give you a universally aligned frame. EB