Behind the Bar: My Decision to Elevate the Eyewear Shopping Experience

Twenty-five years ago, I made an unconventional decision: I hid all the frames in my boutique inside drawers behind a bar. This wasn’t a designer’s whim but a deliberate choice to transform the eyewear shopping experience. I wanted every customer to receive expert advice from an optician to avoid mistakes and ensure optimal comfort.

I am the perfect example of someone with a narrow nose, making glasses sit too low and constantly slide down. Many people in Quebec face the same issue, as our facial features are often finer than those in France or Italy.

My three non-negotiable criteria for perfectly comfortable glasses

Throughout my career, I’ve identified three essential elements that determine whether a pair of glasses will become your everyday ally or end up forgotten in a drawer.

1. Nose support: The key to comfort

This is the critical point where all the weight of your glasses rests. The cartilage of your nose forms a specific angle, and your frame must match it precisely. If the angle and width aren’t suited to your anatomy, your glasses will either slide down or leave marks on your nose, or both.

I often prefer plastic frames with direct nose support because they distribute the weight across a larger surface area compared to adjustable nose pads. Although these nose pads can be adjusted in three dimensions using specialized tools, they tend to become loose over time. Plus, since they leave visible marks on the skin, many of our customers prefer buying plastic frames for comfort in our stores.

2. The right width for your temples: A matter of millimeters

To prevent your glasses from slipping or feeling too tight, the frame width must match your temple width precisely. In my boutiques, we measure this with precision using a cephalometer or a reference frame.

Width adjustments are possible but minimal—up to a maximum of 3 mm, roughly the size of a cooked quinoa grain. That’s why I developed a custom eye frame program, which is especially appreciated by people with face widths smaller than 130 mm or larger than 145 mm.

3. Lightweight frames: A crucial factor I never compromise

During my shopping trips in Europe, I see hundreds of stunning frames—true works of art. Yet, I refuse to purchase some simply because they’re too heavy. It’s like uncomfortable shoes—who doesn’t have what I call a "shoe graveyard" at home?

I favor designs from optician-designers who understand the importance of comfort and create lightweight frames. Even if the frame is thick in design, the material should be thin in depth, ensuring both style and comfort.

For customers with strong prescriptions, I recommend frames with smaller lenses that are perfectly centered in front of the pupils, with lateral extensions to fit the face width. Another trick is to choose frames that extend fully to the width of the face. If the lenses are too wide and extend too far from the eyes, the weight increases, making them uncomfortable.

You would like to learn more about the criteria for choosing the right frames?

Read our article Visagism in 15 points: find the perfect frame on your first try

My commitment to your comfort

At Bar à Lunettes, our team of opticians pays close attention to every detail when it comes to your visual and physical comfort. Our meticulous approach transforms eyewear shopping into a truly personalized experience.

I personally, along with my team, commit to providing you with glasses so comfortable that you’ll forget they’re even on your nose—because I know how valuable that is in daily life.

Come discover the Bar à Lunettes difference, where your comfort is our top priority.

Marie-Sophie Dion, O.O.D.

and the Bar à Lunettes team