Pantoscopic Tilt

Please note: we do not recommend making this adjustment to rimless frames.

Pantoscopic tilt is the angle of the lens toward the eye. Most glasses come with some pantoscopic tilt to match the natural curve of the eye.

If you have a new pair of progressive glasses and you are experiencing any of the following:

• Needing to tilt your head down to see things in

• the distance

• Needing to tilt your head up to read more

• comfortably

• Peripheral vision that seems blurry and moving

• or “swimming” effect

• Reading area feels small or difficult to use

Try increasing the pantoscopic tilt! It’s easy to do yourself at home with no tools required.

How to Adjust Pantoscopic Tilt

Before making this adjustment, confirm that your glasses are balanced by placing them upside down on a flat surface. All four corners should touch the surface. If they don’t, follow the tips in our How to Adjust Your Glasses infographic to make adjustments until they do.

Once your glasses are balanced, you can increase the pantoscopic tilt.

1. Hold the glasses right-side-up and firmly grasp the frame front.

   • You don’t need to squeeze hard; just make sure that the frame is not moving around while adjusting.

   • You can cover the lenses with a microfiber cleaning cloth if you want to avoid fingerprints.

2. Brace your thumb underneath the hinge on the temple arm furthest away from you. You should be able to see the hinge clearly.

   • Just apply enough pressure to hold the hinge stable.

3. Place two fingers on top of the hinge. One finger should be closer to the front of the frame, and the other will be resting on the temple arm.

4. Press down on the temple arm with your finger.

   • You need to be firm, but you don’t need to push too hard or too fast. It’s better to make several small but firm adjustments rather than one big adjustment.

5. To check if you have made an adjustment, move your hand away from the hinge. You may see that there is a small gap at the top of where the temple arm connects to the frame front.

   • You can also check by placing your glasses upside down on a flat surface. The arm you have been adjusting should lift slightly off the table.

6. You’ll want to balance the glasses again after you increase the pantoscopic tilt. Turn the glasses around so that you are gripping the frame front right-side-up in the opposite hand and begin adjusting the other temple arm. Check regularly until the glasses are balanced.

7. Once they pass the test, try them on again and continue adjusting the fit as needed.

If the tilt was increased too much (i.e., the frame is touching the face) or if you want to reverse the adjustment, simply hold the glasses upside down by the frame front and repeat the steps.