Finding the right pair of glasses goes beyond finding the perfect size, shape and frame style. Achieving truly optimal vision involves precise fit of your frames. At Doig Optometry in Calgary, Alberta, we’re committed to designing the right prescription lenses, ensuring your glasses give you the best vision. Pantoscopic tilt is one of the most important frame measurements and adjustments to help achieve optimal vision in any pair of glasses.
What is Pantoscopic Lens Tilt?
We all get the very best vision by looking through the center of our lenses, “straight on”. Looking through any lens at an “off center” angle creates an imperfection in the optics. When the light passes through the lens at an angle, it must take an uneven path. Since we spend most of our time looking slightly downward, this imperfection can be minimized simply by tilting the lenses slightly. In order to achieve this, the bottom of most eyeglass frames tilt a bit closer to your face than the top. Choosing frames that fit this way, or adjusting your glasses so the bottom fits closer to your cheeks increases the pantoscopic tilt in your glasses.
Depending on the anatomy of your cheeks and face, having too much pantoscopic tilt will make your glasses touch your cheeks. This can be uncomfortable. It can cause your lenses to fog or pick up oils from your skin. So getting the right amount of pantoscopic tilt is also important for fashion and comfort, not just for optics.
Factors Affecting Lens Tilt
Several factors determine the appropriate amount of pantoscopic or retrospective tilt for eyeglass lenses:
- Facial Anatomy: The unique structure of your face, including cheekbone height and the shape of your nose bridge, significantly impacts how frames sit and the pantoscopic tilt before they are adjusted.
- Frame Design and Style: The inherent design of the eyeglass frame, including its shape and how it's intended to rest on the face, influences the baseline tilt which may need adjustment.
- Visual Requirements: The primary goal of pantoscopic lens tilt is optical alignment. The specific lens prescription and type (like progressive lenses, which have viewing zones for different distances) often demand precise tilt for optimal performance, especially considering our common downward viewing angles.
- Wearer Comfort: The pantoscopic tilt must be adjusted to ensure the frames do not uncomfortably touch the cheeks, cause lenses to fog up easily, or collect skin oils, balancing optical needs with practical wearability.
Finding Your Pantoscopic Lens Tilt in Calgary & Other Important Measurements
Determining the ideal pantoscopic tilt involves a combination of precise measurements, careful adjustments, and patient input:
- Measurements and Tools: Your optometrist’s team will use specialized tools to measure face and frame shape parameters. While pupillary distance (PD) ensures horizontal alignment, specific measurements for tilt might involve digital centration devices (which assess pantoscopic tilt, vertex distance, and frame wrap simultaneously) or manual pantoscopic tilt gauges. These measurements provide a starting point based on optical principles and the chosen frame.
- Fine Tuning Adjustments: Once your eyeglasses are made, the final fitting adjustment is critical. Your Optometrist or their staff will carefully adjust parts of the frame, like the temples or nose pad arms, to modify the pantoscopic tilt, observing how the changes affect the fit on your face and your vision.
- Collaborative Approach: Your feedback is crucial. Tell your optometrist’s team about the comfort of your eyeglass frames (Do they touch your cheeks or eyelashes? Do they feel secure?) and your visual comfort and clarity (Is your vision clear in typical head and eye positions?). When your frames and lenses are adjusted properly, your vision will feel just right and you will see well with confidence that you can get used to your new glasses. This collaborative process ensures that the final adjustment balances optimal optical performance with comfortable, practical wear.
Ensure Your Glasses Fit Right with Doig Optometry
Concerned about the fit of your glasses? We provide comprehensive vision testing along with measurement and adjustment of pantoscopic lens tilt in south Calgary.
Contact us today for an appointment.
Contact Doig Optometry in SW, Calgary for a consultation or appointment booking.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should your eyelashes touch the lens of your glasses?
No! Your eyelashes should clear the lens of your glasses to eliminate any issues with dirty lenses and eyelash tickle. This can be achieved through proper frame choice and frame adjustment. Getting the right amount of pantoscopic tilt will help you find the best fit for your particular situation. The staff at your optometrist’s office can help you with the best frame choice and adjustment.
What’s the most important eyeglass fitting adjustment?
Pantoscopic tilt is usually the most important of the frame adjustments to help ensure speedy adaptation to a new pair of eyeglasses, especially if they are made with Progressive Lenses. Ideally, your Optometrist will adjust your frames for optimal fit and measure the pantoscopic tilt of the frames as you wear them. This information can be used when ordering your new eyeglasses to design a lens for simple adaptation. Pantoscopic tilt is one of the most important of the Position Of Wear (POW) measurements made in “As Worn” lens design.
What other eyeglass fitting measurements are important?
The other important measurements are Vertex Distance, which is the distance between your eyes and your lenses, and Panoramic or Wrap angle. These Position of Wear measurements are combined with the as worn, monocular interpupillary distance, and optical center height in premium lens design. That’s how premium “as worn” lens designs help you get the optimum vision with each pair of glasses.
Pantoscopic Tilt and the other As Worn Design parameters improve vision in all types of lenses. It doesn’t matter whether your eyeglasses will be used for reading, driving, T.V., Computer or sports, lenses with optimal As Worn design will give you the best optics for optimal visual function. Ask about As Worn lens design next time you see your Optometrist for new eyeglasses.
How often should I have my eyeglasses checked for proper fit?
It's generally advisable to have your eyeglasses examined yearly, or any time you sense a difference in how they fit or feel. Minor shifts from daily use or accidental knocks can subtly alter the frame's alignment and lens tilt, potentially impacting your vision. At Doig Optometry, we welcome you to bring in your glasses for an assessment and necessary adjustments to ensure they continue to provide optimal comfort and clarity.
Can too much lens tilt cause discomfort or vision problems?
Certainly. If the lens tilt is incorrect—either tilting too much towards your cheeks (pantoscopic) or too far away (retrospective)—it can cause issues like distorted peripheral vision, headaches, or eye strain. This is why having the pantoscopic tilt precisely measured and adjusted by your optometrist is important; it ensures the alignment enhances your visual experience instead of causing discomfort or clarity problems.
Do all types of eyeglasses need a specific tilt or angle?
While a small degree of pantoscopic tilt is standard in most eyeglasses, the exact angle can vary based on your prescription, frame style, and face shape. Your optometrist will measure and adjust the tilt so that your lenses are customized to your vision needs. Not everyone needs a significant tilt, but a proper adjustment can make a noticeable difference in clarity and comfort, especially in higher prescriptions.