PD and Face Shape: How Your Facial Structure Affects Your Glasses

PD and Face Shape

Last updated: January 2025 | Reading time: 8 minutes

When you're choosing glasses frames, you've probably read advice about matching frames to your face shape—round faces should try angular frames, square faces look good with curves, and so on. But there's a less-discussed relationship between your face and your glasses: how your facial structure determines your PD and what that means for frame selection.

Understanding this connection helps you choose frames that not only look good but actually work optically.

Face Shape and PD: The Connection

Your PD is determined by the underlying bone structure of your skull—specifically, the distance between your orbital cavities (eye sockets). This spacing correlates, though not perfectly, with overall facial proportions.

Wider Faces, Wider PD

Generally speaking, people with wider faces tend to have wider pupillary distances. The same skeletal genes that create a broad facial structure also create wider orbital spacing.

Correlation data: Studies show a moderate positive correlation (approximately r = 0.4-0.5) between facial width and PD. It's not a perfect predictor, but wider faces do trend toward wider PD.

Narrow Faces, Narrower PD

Conversely, people with narrow or oval facial structures tend toward the lower end of the PD range. Their more compact skull geometry includes closer-set eyes.

Exceptions Exist

Face width and PD aren't perfectly correlated. You can have a wide face with relatively close-set eyes, or a narrow face with wide-set eyes. That's why measuring PD directly matters—you can't just estimate from face shape.

Frame Selection Based on PD

Understanding your PD helps you choose frames that work technically, not just aesthetically.

The Frame PD Concept

Every frame has a natural "frame PD"—the distance between the geometric centers of the two lens openings. This is approximately:

Frame PD ≈ Lens Width + Bridge Width

A frame with 52mm lens width and 18mm bridge width has a frame PD around 70mm.

Matching Frame PD to Your PD

Ideally, your PD should be close to the frame's natural PD. When they match:

Optical centers fall near the geometric lens centers
Lenses are positioned optimally in the frame
Thickness distribution is balanced

When they don't match:

Optical centers must be decentered from geometric centers
One side of each lens becomes thicker
High prescriptions amplify these effects

Practical Guidelines

If your PD is 60mm or less:

Look for smaller frame sizes
Avoid very wide frames unless willing to accept aesthetic trade-offs
Asian-fit frames often accommodate narrow PD better
Child-sized adult styles work for some narrow-PD adults

If your PD is 68mm or more:

Look for larger frames
Men's frames typically accommodate wider PD than women's
Avoid very small/narrow frames
Ensure frames are wide enough that optical centers aren't pushed to the edges

If your PD is 61-67mm:

Most standard adult frames accommodate this range
You have the widest frame selection
Still verify fit, but fewer constraints

Common Face Shapes and Their Typical PD Ranges

While individual variation exists, here are general tendencies:

Round Faces

Round faces often have moderate PD (60-66mm range). The proportional facial structure typically means eye spacing is neither extremely wide nor narrow.

Frame tips: Angular frames contrast nicely with round features, and most will accommodate typical round-face PD.

Oval Faces

Oval faces vary widely in PD. The facial proportions are balanced, but eye spacing can lean either direction.

Frame tips: This face shape suits many frame styles, and the moderate average PD means most frames work technically.

Square Faces

Square faces often have moderate-to-wide PD (62-70mm range). The strong jaw and brow structure correlates with broader facial dimensions.

Frame tips: Round or curved frames soften angular features. Ensure frame width accommodates your PD—some round frames run small.

Heart/Inverted Triangle Faces

These faces feature a broader forehead tapering to a narrower chin. PD is often moderate to narrow (58-64mm range) despite the wide-appearing upper face.

Frame tips: Frames with bottom-heavy emphasis or cat-eye shapes work well. Verify PD fit since the visual width of the face can mislead.

Oblong/Rectangular Faces

Long, narrow faces often have moderate-to-narrow PD (58-64mm range). The elongated facial structure is typically accompanied by closer-set eyes.

Frame tips: Frames with decorative temples or wider shapes add perceived width. Narrow PD is usually accommodated, but verify with longer faces that may need taller frame proportions.

Facial Asymmetry and Monocular PD

Most faces are asymmetric—one eye sitting slightly higher, further from center, or differently positioned than the other.

Facial asymmetry correlates with monocular PD asymmetry. If your face is noticeably asymmetric, your monocular PD values likely differ as well.

Detection: Look at photos of yourself. Do your eyes appear equally spaced from your nose? Does one eye seem higher than the other?

Implications: Significant facial asymmetry makes monocular PD (measured for each eye separately) more important than single binocular PD.

Eye Shape vs. Eye Position

Don't confuse eye shape with eye position:

Eye shape: Round, almond, hooded, etc.—affects aesthetics but not PD
Eye position: How far apart they're set—directly determines PD

Wide-set eyes with any shape have wide PD. Close-set eyes with any shape have narrow PD. The shape affects how frames look on your face; the position affects how lenses must be positioned.

Special Considerations

Very Wide PD (Above 72mm)

People with very wide-set eyes face frame limitations:

Many frames literally can't accommodate optical centers far enough apart
Men's large frames offer the most options
Custom or semi-custom frame fitting may help
Sports and wraparound styles often accommodate wider PD

Very Narrow PD (Below 55mm)

People with very close-set eyes have different challenges:

Standard adult frames may be too wide
Optical centers positioned very inward can look unusual
Asian-fit frames designed for different facial proportions may help
Some petite or children's frames work for narrow-PD adults

Asymmetric Facial Features

Beyond eye spacing, other asymmetries affect glasses fit:

Uneven ear height (temples rest differently)
Asymmetric nose bridge (frames sit off-center)
Different eyebrow positions (change frame appearance)

These don't directly affect PD but affect overall glasses fit and comfort.

The Try-On Reality

Knowing your PD helps narrow frame choices, but nothing replaces trying frames (physically or virtually):

Physical Try-On Tips

When trying frames in a store:

Note how centered the frame feels on your face
Check if the frame's bridge matches your nose
Look straight ahead—do your pupils appear centered in the frames?
Consider whether the frame seems too wide or narrow overall

Virtual Try-On Tips

Online virtual try-on tools vary in accuracy, but they can show:

General proportions of frame on face
Whether frame width seems appropriate
Overall aesthetic effect

They're less good at showing optical center positioning, which depends on PD and can't be visualized without the actual prescription lenses.

Making It All Work Together

The ideal glasses satisfy multiple criteria:

Aesthetically flattering for your face shape
Technically compatible with your PD
Comfortable on your specific nose and ears
Appropriate for your prescription needs

Sometimes these conflict. A frame that looks fantastic might not accommodate your PD optimally. A technically ideal frame might not match your style.

Knowing your PD helps you identify which frames are even candidates, then aesthetics narrow the choice further.

Summary: PD and Face Shape Interaction

Face width and PD correlate but aren't perfectly predictive
Wide faces generally have wide PD, with better options in larger frames
Narrow faces generally have narrow PD, with better options in smaller frames
Facial asymmetry suggests monocular PD matters more
Frame PD should roughly match your PD for optimal lens positioning
Aesthetic face shape advice complements but doesn't replace PD matching

Your face shape tells you what looks good. Your PD tells you what works well. The best glasses satisfy both.

Know your face shape but not your PD? Measure it free in 30 seconds with our online tool—then find frames that look great AND fit right.