22/05/2026
The Reality of Spectacle Frame Selection
By Chris Faul
The art—and more importantly, the value—of precision optical dispensing and frame alignment is becoming a lost craft. In my view, successful dispensing must fulfil three fundamental criteria for the patient:
• Look Good: Aesthetic appeal and personal style.
• See Good: Optical accuracy and visual performance.
• Feel Good: Long-term physical comfort and fit.
Unfortunately, the global industry has allowed manufacturers to dictate the narrative, shifting the focus almost entirely toward fashion. However, because human anatomy varies so significantly, rigorous frame selection remains the cornerstone of quality dispensing. There is often a misconception regarding what constitutes an "adequate" inventory; true selection is frequently misinterpreted.
To illustrate this, let’s analyse a standard inventory of 600 frames.
At first glance, 600 units seems like a vast choice. However, once we apply the necessary filters for a diverse patient base, the numbers tell a different story:
1. Price Points: To cater to a broad market, one might offer six price tiers. (600 ÷ 6 = 100 units per tier)
2. Materials/Styles: Within those tiers, we must provide options for plastic, metal, rimless, and semi-rimless designs. (100 ÷ 4 = 25 units)
3. Demographics: These must then be split between male, female, children, and young adults. (25 ÷ 4 = ~6 units)
4. Aesthetics: Finally, consider colour variations—classics like black, gold, and silver versus bold primary colours.
Suddenly, a "wall of 600 frames" provides only a handful of viable options for any specific individual.
Beyond these categories, the inventory must also accommodate physical proportions: temple length, bridge width, and pantoscopic tilt. An optometrist’s reputation does not end with the clinical exam; it is tied to the spectacles themselves. A patient’s judgment of their practitioner lasts for the two-year lifespan of the product, renewed every time they put them on. By rethinking how we stock our frame walls, we can return to the true art of dispensing.
