The Brad

The Brad Prescription Glasses

A good square frame is the white T-shirt of eyewear: simple, reliable and always in style. The Brad is a men’s full-rim metal square frame, sized 55-17-145, in Brown, Dark Green or Dark Gunmetal. You can order it with single vision, progressive or bifocal lenses made to your prescription. It belongs to the Original Penguin collection.

Which colour is you?

Brown. Brown is a warm, earthy brown. It is softer than black and suits brown, auburn and red hair.

Dark Green. Dark Green keeps things simple. It pairs well with neutrals, denim and earthy colours.

Dark Gunmetal. Dark Gunmetal is a deep charcoal metal. It is cool, modern and understated, and it suits grey or silver hair especially well.

Each colour is shown in the gallery, so you can compare them side by side before you decide.

Shape and style

Square lenses add structure to round and oval faces and make features look more defined. The slim metal construction keeps it light and neat, and it is easy for an optician to adjust.

Whether it is your main pair or a spare, The Brad is easy to live with.

Wearing it every day

Short hair and a clean shave make the frame shape stand out; with longer hair or a beard it reads as more relaxed.

Frame size and fit

With 55mm lenses, this is a larger frame that suits wider faces. The 17mm bridge is average. The 145mm arms are on the longer side, which suits larger heads. Across the lenses and bridge it measures about 127mm.

Not sure about sizing? Compare these numbers with the ones on the inside arm of a pair that fits you well. A difference of two or three millimetres or less usually means a similar fit.

Lens options for The Brad

Your optometrist’s prescription will usually tell you which of these you need:

• Single vision: one clear prescription across the whole lens.
• Bifocal: distance on top, a reading segment below.
• Progressive: smooth vision from near to far in one lens, no line.
• Ready readers: off-the-shelf magnification for books and screens.

If your prescription is on the stronger side, a thinner high-index lens keeps the edges neat, and an anti-reflective coating means fewer distracting reflections on screens and at night.

Ordering online is easier than you think

All you need is a current prescription from your optometrist and your pupillary distance (PD), the distance between your pupils. Your PD is often written on your prescription; if it is not, ask your optometrist for it. Pick your colour, choose your lens type, enter your details and add any lens upgrades. If you are not sure about sizing, compare the measurements above with a pair you already own. It only takes a minute and saves any guesswork.

From our lab to you

Every pair is made to order. Our UK optical lab cuts your lenses to your prescription, fits them into your The Brad and then sends your glasses to you in Australia.

Looking after them

Wipe your lenses with a microfibre cloth rather than the hem of your shirt, keep them in a case when they are in your bag, and never leave them on the dashboard on a hot day. Our lens care guide has a few more habits worth picking up.

Your questions, answered

Is it a large frame?

Yes. With 55mm lenses it suits wider faces.

Is The Brad comfortable for all-day wear?

Yes. It is a lightweight frame, and a thinner lens for a stronger prescription keeps the weight down even further.

Do you make the lenses yourselves?

Yes. Every pair is made to order in our UK optical lab, where your lenses are cut to your prescription and fitted into your frame.

Still deciding on The Brad? Browse more men’s glasses and prescription glasses.