The short answer: Pain behind the ears usually means the temple arms bend down too sharply or grip too tightly, the frame is too wide so the arms angle in hard, or the glasses are heavy. The fix is a small adjustment: soften the bend where the arm curves over the ear, or gently loosen a too-tight frame. A frame that is genuinely the wrong width needs a different size.
The usual causes
- The bend is too sharp or too far forward. The curve where the temple goes over your ear should start at the right spot; too early and it digs in.
- The frame is too tight. Arms that squeeze press the temple tips into the bone behind your ears.
- The frame is too wide. If the front is too big, the arms have to angle in hard to grip, loading the ears.
- The glasses are heavy. Thick lenses or a heavy frame concentrate weight on the ears and nose.
Quick fixes at home
For plastic temples, warm the arm gently with a hair dryer for a few seconds, then reshape the curve so it follows your ear without pressing. For metal arms with a soft grip, you can adjust the bend by hand. If the whole frame grips too tight, follow the safe steps in adjusting glasses at home in reverse to open them slightly.
When the frame is the wrong size
If the arms leave deep marks or the front feels stretched across your face, the frame may simply be too small or too wide. No bend will fix a size mismatch. Check the temple length and total width against your face using frame size numbers and the four fit points in how glasses should fit.
Reduce the weight
If heavy lenses are the culprit, thinner high-index lenses and a lighter frame ease the load; see high-index lenses. A lighter acetate or titanium frame also helps. Weight that sits evenly across nose and ears feels like nothing; weight that concentrates behind the ears aches.
When to see an optician
If home adjustment does not help, or the frame is expensive or has spring hinges, an optician can reshape it precisely in minutes, usually free. Persistent pain, redness, or a sore that will not heal is worth mentioning to them, and any new nerve-type pain unrelated to the fit is worth raising with a doctor.
From our test bench. Nine times out of ten the fault is the bend, not the frame. The curve over the ear should start just past where your ear meets your head and follow it gently, not clamp. We warm the temple, reshape the curve, and re-check; only if marks and stretch remain do we call it a sizing problem.
FAQ
Why do my glasses hurt behind my ears?
Usually the temple arms bend too sharply over the ear, grip too tightly, or the frame is too wide so the arms angle in hard. Heavy lenses can add to it. Most cases are fixed with a small bend adjustment.
How do I stop my glasses hurting my ears?
Gently reshape the curve where the arm goes over your ear so it follows the ear without pressing, and loosen a frame that grips too tight. If the frame is the wrong width or the lenses are heavy, a resize or thinner lenses help.
Should glasses touch behind your ears?
The temple should rest lightly along the top of and behind the ear without pressing or pinching. It should hold the glasses in place, not clamp. Deep marks or soreness mean the bend or size needs adjusting.
Part of The Complete Guide to Glasses Fit · Related: adjusting glasses at home · Shop accessories · Last updated: August 9, 2026
