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Best Eyeglasses, Sunglasses and Readers for Women Over 50 in 2024

See the latest frames, styles and colors that will make your peepers pop


spinner image celebrities wearing different glasses
(Left to right) Oprah Winfrey, Patricia Arquette, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Brooke Shields.
AARP (Getty Images, 4)

Many mature women feel more fashionable and attractive when they’re wearing some sort of glasses these days. The reasons? Well, glasses are trending in fashion — especially oversized and statement styles — but that’s not all. Prescription glasses work like eyeliner to define aging peepers, sunglass lenses camouflage fatigue and under-eye circles without the need for concealer, and readers enlarge eyes that seem smaller, less awake. The tough part is choosing the right pair for your face, eyes and taste. As a fashion editor, stylist and personal shopper for women over 50, I know any kind of eyewear purchase comes with questions whether you shop from home, at your neighborhood optician, a mass retailer like Costco, or Target or the drugstore. Wondering whether to try an angular shape or a cat eye? Thick frame or thin? Tortoise or green? Here’s all you need to know to make a spectacle of yourself:

1. Updating your eyeglasses is an instant makeover.

Have you worn the same glasses for two years or more? Do you buy the same brand, style or color over and over again? Yes? Stop right there. If you do one thing to update your looks this year, get new glasses. The reason is simple. Faces over 50 do change with age. They get fuller, rounder and even smoother with weight gain, filler or Botox. Or maybe they get saggier or more lined due to weight loss, gravity, sun damage and your own genetics. Brows thin and go gray. New glasses have an almost magical ability to restore definition, lift your features, enhance skin tone and divert attention away from all your concerns. That’s why whether you wear Rx frames, readers or sunglasses, I’m encouraging you to update them ASAP. Take a look at the celebs below for some trendy inspiration.

spinner image different glasses
(Top left, clockwise) Warby Parker Women’s Pippa Eyeglasses in Black Currant Tortoise ($95,warbyparker.com), Ray-Ban Women’s Topline SquareEyeglasses Style 0RX4487V in Black on Transparent ($166,targetoptical.com), Marc Jacobs Marc 764S Acetate Square Sunglasses in Black ($160,neimanmarcus.com), Eyebobs Eye-Con Readers in 05 Black to Antique Crystal Fade Front and Temples ($95,eyebobs.com).
AARP (Warby Parker, Target Optical, Neiman Marcus, Eyebobs)

2. Choose a better frame shape for your face.

Many online eyeglass sites like Warby Parker, Zenni Optical and EyeBuyDirect have guides that match specific face shapes to flattering frames. They’re based on the standard heart, round, oval, square formulas. It’s a good start, but faces over 50 are not neat tight geometric shapes, and we have more issues. Some of us want frames that minimize a receding hairline, double chin or saggy jawline. Others want glasses that lift droopy cheeks, or soften expression lines and forehead creases. So let’s modify the geometric strategy and simplify your shopping process with a few advanced beauty and style matchups:  

If you have a full, plump, round face, choose an angular frame like the Coach Eyewear for Women in Dark Tortoise Canary Style HC6226F ($144, framesdirect.com) or the Ralph by Ralph Lauren Women’s Style RA7174U in Shiny Rose Havana ($133, lenscrafters.com). The sharp lines of square- and rectangle-shaped glasses work like contouring to restore a sense of structure.

If you have a long face or lots of downward expression lines, choose frames that emphasize width with a rectangular or oval shape like the Warby Parker Women’s Pippa Eyeglasses in Black Currant Tortoise ($95, warbyparker.com) or a large cat eye similar to the Armani Exchange Women’s AX1034 Cat Eye Frame in Rose Gold ($144, lenscrafters.com) to add both width and lift.

If you have deep forehead creases or vertical 11s between the brows, choose a bold frame in a color that contrasts with your skin tone or black like the GlassesUSA.com Women’s Eyeglasses Muse Mitchum in Shiny Black ($60, glassesusa.com) to pull all the attention straight to your eyes.

If you have saggy lids or tired-looking eyes, choose a modern cat eye frame like the SmartBuy Collection Women’s Lizette DFI-004 001 Cat Eye Glasses in Black ($68, smartbuyglasses.com) or the Ralph Lauren Women’s Cat Eye Eyeglasses in Opal Mint Style RL6235QU ($210, framesdirect.com) for just enough upward swing to create a more open, alert expression.

If you have an angular face or sharp features, a round frame like the EyeBuyDirect Women’s Chillax Glasses in Round Red & Floral ($19, eyebuydirect.com) or a curvy style like the Tory Burch Style TY2154U in Blue Honey Tortoise ($244, lenscrafters.com) guarantees a softer more flattering look. 

If your jawline is jowly or double-chinned and saggy at the neck, choose a brow-line style like the Ray-Ban Women’s Topline SquareEyeglasses Style 0RX4487V in Black on Transparent ($166, targetoptical.com) or two-tone style that’s darker on top and fades to lighter on bottom like the Eyebobs Eye-Con Readers in 05 Black to Antique Crystal Fade Front and Temples ($95, eyebobs.com) to redirect attention up to eye level without cutting bangs.

If you have a profile problem at the jawline and like to wear your hair pulled back, try a frame with wide, tapered “arms” like the Foster Grant Women’s Santa Monica Haven in Charcoal Frame w/Smoke Lenses ($53, fostergrant.com) or Marc Jacobs Marc 764S Acetate Square Sunglasses in Black ($160, neimanmarcus.com). Wide arms are a trendy detail and shift the focus away from a loose jawline.

spinner image different glasses
Laurel Progressives in Shiny Cinnamon ($98, ) (Top), Warby Parker Women’s Sonia Eyeglasses in Oak Barrel ($95,warbyparker.com) (Bottom left) and Swarovski Women’s Eyeglasses in Black Style 0SK2004 ($261, targetoptical.com) (Bottom right).
AARP (Look Optic, Warby Parker, Target Optical)

3. Choose a frame color like you choose makeup.

We select hair color, makeup and clothing in colors that enhance our looks. Now extend this decision to include your glasses. You can select a color that blends harmoniously with your coloring for a classic look, or a color that contrasts with it to make more of a fashion statement.

Black frames have the boldest effect and always look “cool.” You can control the impact by modifying the frame weight and choosing one that’s classically thin or trendy-chunky.

Tortoiseshell does for the face what highlights do for the hair. It adds lively glints of lighter tones like butterscotch, toffee and caramel (or even pastels in trendier tortoiseshell mixes) that warm up skin tones and counteract fatigue.

Clear, transparent frames are a fresh alternative to rimless and wire-rimmed glasses. The transparent look also gives mature complexions a subtle, luminous glow. So do shiny finishes on frames, which enhance the dewy effect of face creams and tinted moisturizers.

Ombre frames that gradually blend from a deeper or brighter color on top to a lighter one below can help draw attention to the top half of the frame where eyes sit and away from puffy under-eyes and dark circles.

Browline frames with a defined top and a wire or rimless bottom are another option that works in a similar way.

Colorful glasses can enhance your eye color. For example, blue eyes intensify in cool navy or black frames but really pop in warmer frames like red and golden tortoise. Green eyes gain depth in mossy, emerald and jade greens, but stun in plum or violet. Brown eyes look great in tortoise but get a boost from contrasting purple or green. Hazel eyes melt in green and golden frames but look rich in light to medium tortoise.

4. Chunky or slim?

Some frames are bold and thick, others are refined and thin.

There are no rules, but here’s my foolproof guide:

Bolder, thicker frames often work best on those with larger faces and stronger, more defined features or anyone who wants their glasses to make a statement. For example, take a look at the angular frames with a geometric look like Privé Revaux Women’s La Marina Reader in Black ($30, priverevaux.com) or the Zenni Women Cat-Eye Glasses in Pattern Style 2037539 ($24, zennioptical.com). That said, you can modify the impact of bolder frames by choosing them in clear or a soft color, or you can amplify it by opting for black, tortoise or a head-turning color like red, green or blue.

Thinner frames often work best for small faces, those with delicate features and anyone who wants glasses that whisper rather than shout. Of course you can choose a thin frame in a statement color like the EyeBuyDirect Women’s Aroma Glasses in Cat Eye Emerald Green ($62, eyebuydirect.com) or an oversized shape like the Ann Taylor Cat Eye Glasses in Tortoise/ Navy Style AT354 ($123, framesdirect.com) for extra style without overdoing the trendiness.

spinner image different sunglasses
Armani Exchange Women’s Metal Aviator in Shiny Black/ Grey Lens, Polarized Style0AX2034S ($86, targetoptical.com).
AARP (Target, 2)

5. Select lenses that solve problems.

For those who wear prescription glasses, healthy eyes and an up-to-date prescription is the No. 1 priority, so be sure to see your ophthalmologist or optometrist and optician each year. Lens types, colors and coatings are another story. Here’s what’s what:

Blue-light coatings on readers and Rx lenses may help reduce eye strain and headaches if you spend a lot of time on an iPhone, computer or tablet. They’re designed to filter out the potentially harmful blue light from electronic devices.

Scratch-resistant coatings — even on drugstore glasses — can help if you’re prone to tossing glasses in your bag or keeping them on a desk minus a case.

Polarized lenses for sunglasses are designed for any outdoor activity where glare is an issue. Like regular sunglasses, they reveal eye shape more or less depending on the depth of color in the lenses.

Mirrored lenses for sunglasses also counteract glare and are effective for poor visibility from water reflection at the beach or snow in winter, and for sports like skiing and snowboarding. They do hide your eyes, so save the winks for your progressives and transitional lenses.

Transition lenses, also called photochromic lenses, are a prescription eyeglass/sunglass hybrid that changes from clear indoors to dark outdoors when exposed to UV light and back to clear again when you return indoors. They are a practical choice that cuts down on the number of glasses you need to lug around in your bag.

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Progressive lenses are multi-tasking glasses that correct and combine near, middle and distance vision in one lens. They make having different glasses for reading, computer work, watching TV and driving unnecessary.

Tinted pastel indoor lenses offer cosmetic benefits.

Subtly tinted lenses work indoors, so if you wear prescription lenses, consider asking for a 10 to 15 percent soothing pastel in a light blue or pink to disguise dark circles and under-eye bags but not hide your eyes. They also help if you work indoors near a window so long as the lenses are also 100 percent UVA/UVB ones. Ask your optician to add this benefit.

Gradient lenses that are darker top, lighter on bottom offer indoor/outdoor versatility and with 100 percent UVA/ UVB protection can be confidently worn 365 days a year. They’re suitable for driving since they shield eyes from overhead sunlight, but they make the dashboard clear.

6. Know the good, bad and ugly of DIY fittings.

Many women ask me, “Do virtual try-ons actually work?” Sites like LensCrafters, Target Optical, Zenni Optical, GlassesUSA.com and Warby Parker all have virtual try-ons that enable you to see how different glasses look on your face via your phone or laptop. Virtual try-ons do provide an idea of what you like/don’t like. The advantage of trying on many styles at multiple sites without leaving home is kind of fabulous. The online inventory is much higher than in most stores, and you may snag better deals. However, you won’t be able to feel the fit or test the lenses until the glasses arrive. If you have fitting issues with glasses from past experience, follow up your research by going to a store where an optician can fit a similar frame in person and check for lens alignment.

If you’re an in-store DIY shopper who tends to grab readers or sunglasses from a drugstore rack or a stand/counter at a mass retailer, there are major tip-offs that say, “Nope. You can do better!” Here’s what to look for:

Is the frame’s bridge compatible with your nose’s bridge? There should be no slipping or pinching. A saddle bridge (curved in the center like a saddle) like the Vogue Eyewear Women’s Style VO5603 in Total Dark Havana ($112, glasses.com) helps distribute the frame weight equally. A keyhole bridge (shaped like a keyhole) similar to the EyeBuyDirect Aura Glasses Women’s Round Warm Tortoise Eyeglasses ($70, eyebuydirect.com) distributes glasses weight on either side of the nose rather than on top. Wire-rim frames like the Sofia Vergara x Foster Grant Jasmine Cateye Readers in Brown ($33, fostergrant.com) have flexible nose pads that can be adjusted to improve the fit on any nose size or shape. Trying on glasses by yourself is just like trying on jeans or bras. It requires a little pre-store homework and a tag that says the frames are returnable if you get home and change your mind.

Do the frames interact with your facial movements? If the glasses you’re trying on feel heavy, leave marks on the bridge of your nose and dent your cheeks, move up and down as you speak, smile or eat and/or require frequent push-ups to stay put, they’re not for you.

How do the temples feel? These are the arms or sides of the frame, and they should not be digging into your head or leaning uncomfortably on your ears.

How much eye area do they cover? Sunglass lenses should cover enough of your eye area to adequately protect the eyes and skin around them from UV rays.

Are they sitting straight? Do the glasses tilt? Check your ears — face forward in front of a mirror. One ear may be slightly higher or lower than the other causing any frame you wear to sit askew. Or one arm may be more curved than the other one, making the glasses rock and look crooked.

Are your eyelashes hitting the lenses? If so, the angle of the frame is off.

Do your brows show above, below or not at all? I get this question a lot, but know there are no rules anymore. Your brows are major indicators of facial expression (except for those frozen in place by Botox) and change a lot with age. They can be sparse, thin, gray, shaped like tadpoles or commas (thanks to early overzealous plucking) or missing tails. Or they can be naturally thick thanks to genes or boldly restored thanks to microblading. Thin frames and clear frames give your brows the most visibility, while wider, thicker and more opaque frames partially camouflage brows. It’s your call.

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