My Glasses Feel Too Tight: Why They Hurt and How to Fix It

You just got a new pair of glasses, and they look great. But after wearing them for an hour, you start to feel pressure on your temples. By the end of the day, you have a dull headache, red marks on the sides of your head, and maybe even pain behind your ears. Sound familiar?

Glasses that are too tight are more than just uncomfortable – they can turn what should be a helpful tool into a source of daily pain. The good news is that tight glasses can almost always be fixed with the right adjustments. In this guide, we will explain why glasses feel too tight, what damage overly snug frames can cause, and how to solve the problem for good.

Why Do Glasses Feel Too Tight?

There are several reasons why your glasses might be squeezing your head. Understanding the cause will help you choose the right solution.

1. The Frame Width Is Too Narrow

This is the most common reason for tight glasses. If the front of the frame is narrower than your face, the temple arms have to bend outward to reach your ears. This creates constant inward pressure on the sides of your head, like wearing a headband that is slightly too small.

When you look at yourself in the mirror, the frame front should align with the outer edges of your face. If the frame is noticeably narrower than your cheekbones, it is probably too small.

2. The Temple Arms Are Bent Too Tight

Sometimes the frame width is fine, but the temples (the arms that go over your ears) are bent at too sharp an angle or grip too tightly. This can happen if:

• The glasses were adjusted incorrectly
• You accidentally sat on them or bent them
• They came from the factory with poor fitting

Temple tightness creates pressure points, usually just in front of your ears or along the sides of your head.

3. You Have a Wider Head or Face

Faces come in all shapes and sizes, but standard glasses are designed for "average" proportions. If your head is wider than average, many off-the-shelf frames will feel too tight even if they are labeled as medium or large. You may need to specifically seek out wider frame options.

4. The Nose Pads Are Too Tight

While this usually causes nose pain rather than temple pain, overly tight nose pads can contribute to an overall feeling of the glasses being too constricting. If the pads are squeezed together too much, they can also push the frame forward, which then increases pressure on the temples.

The Problems Caused by Glasses That Are Too Tight

Wearing glasses that squeeze your head is not just uncomfortable – it can lead to real problems over time.