09/05/2015
BASIC PARTS Frame
The frame is that portion of the spectacles that holds the lenses containing the ophthalmic prescription in their proper position in front of the eyes. A frame generally consists of the front, which in one form or another contains the lenses, and the temples, which attach to the front and hook over the ears to help hold the spectacles in place. Frames occasionally do not have temples and are instead held in place by pressure on the sides of the nose (pince-nez), by attachment to another frame (clip-ons), or by being held in the hand (lorgnettes).
Frame Fronts
That area of the frame front between the lenses that rests on the nose is the bridge. The rim going around the lenses is known as the Eyewire or rim. The outer areas of the frame front, to the extreme left and right where the temples attach, are known as the end pieces. A few plastic frames may still have a metal shield on the front of the end piece to which rivets are attached to hold the hinge in place.
The hinges hold the temples to the front, and consist of an odd number of inter fitting barrels, the total number being three, five, or seven. Hinges may vary in construction, but for simplicity are usually classified by the total number of barrels they have when assembled, such as a three-barrel hinge.
Some frames have nose pads, which are plastic pieces that rest on the nose to support the frame. These may be directly attached to the frame or to connecting metal pieces known as guard arms or pad arms.
Temples
The portion of the temple that is nearest its attachment to the front is known as the butt portion or butt end. The place on the temple where it first bends down to go over the ear is called the bend. The portion of the temple between the butt end and the bend is called the shank or shaft, and that portion beyond the bend and behind the ear is referred to as the earpiece, bent-down portion, or curl.
