What are the main types of eyeglass frames?

Eyeglass frames can be classified in three different ways: construction + material + shape. Keeping those categories separate makes comparison much easier.

Construction describes how the lenses are held by the frame, such as full-rim, semi-rimless or rimless. Material describes what the frame components are made from, such as titanium, another metal, acetate or TR90. Shape describes the visual outline, such as rectangular, round or cat-eye.

A pair of rimless glasses can therefore also be a titanium frame. “Rimless” tells you how the frame is constructed; “titanium” tells you the material. Mixing those categories is one of the easiest ways to make frame comparison confusing.

Full-rim vs semi-rimless vs rimless frames

The main difference is how much of the lens is surrounded by a rim. Full-rim frames enclose the lenses, semi-rimless designs leave part of the lens without a surrounding rim, and rimless designs attach the lenses directly to the bridge and temples.

Which eyeglass frame material should you choose?

There is no single best frame material for every wearer. The useful comparison is between the complete frame design, its construction, the material actually specified for that model, your preferred fit and how you intend to use it.

Do not assume the construction tells you the material. A rimless frame may use titanium or another material, while a rectangular frame may be metal, acetate or another plastic depending on the specific model.

Titanium frames

Titanium is used in engineering applications where corrosion resistance and a favourable strength-to-density relationship are useful. In eyewear, that makes titanium worth considering when frame material and overall mass matter to you, but the finished weight and comfort still depend on the complete frame and lenses.

LensCode currently identifies Aura - Black as a titanium rimless frame. That product is a useful example of why construction and material should be evaluated separately.

Technical reference: Royal Society of Chemistry — Titanium .

Plastic and acetate frames

“Plastic” is a broad material category, while acetate is a specific material used in some plastic eyewear frames. Do not assume that every thick or clear plastic-looking frame is acetate unless the product specifications say so.

If material becomes the main part of your decision, use LensCode's eyeglass frame materials guide for the deeper comparison rather than treating this frame-type guide as a complete materials reference.

TR90 when flexibility matters

TR90 appears in LensCode's current children's range. LensCode describes its Ando eyeglasses as using TR90 material and specifically describes those frames as lightweight, flexible and shatter-resistant.

That makes TR90 relevant when comparing some children's products, but there is no need to make it the centre of an adult prescription-frame decision unless the specific product you are considering uses it.

How much does frame shape matter?

Shape matters mainly as a design and fit filter after you have considered construction and measurements. LensCode's current English shopping experience includes shapes and frame-style routes such as rectangular, round, square, cat-eye, aviator, hexagonal, geometric, rimless and semi-rimless designs.

You do not need to turn this choice into a strict face-shape rule. If you want to compare round, square, rectangular and other shapes against facial features, use the dedicated LensCode face-shape guide .

Check frame fit before choosing a style

A frame construction can suit your visual preference and still be the wrong fit. Check the measurements shown on the product page before deciding.

For the full sizing process, including how to read numbers printed inside your current glasses, see the LensCode eyeglass size guide .

Which frame type fits your priorities?

Use the following table as a decision filter, not as a universal ranking of frame types.

How to compare prescription frames at LensCode

Begin with the LensCode eyeglasses collection rather than committing to a single model immediately. This gives you a wider view of the available prescription-frame designs before you narrow the shortlist.

Once you open a product page, compare the details that affect the decision: construction or shape, listed material where available, lens width, bridge width and temple length. Prescription-ready product pages such as Aura, Eva and Luca also include a Choose Lens step.

These examples are not a ranking. They show how three different product pages expose construction, material, shape and measurement information that you can use to narrow your own shortlist.

Common mistakes when choosing eyeglass frames

A simple frame decision framework

If too many frames look suitable, reduce the choice one decision at a time:

Frequently Asked Questions