The crutch is mounted on the inside upper rim of the frame — behind the lens, out of sight from the front. Here is exactly how it is built in, why the frame structure matters, and what it looks like in practice.
If you were to look at an ARTView ptosis frame from the front, it looks like a normal pair of glasses. The crutch mechanism is completely hidden from that angle. It lives on the inside of the frame — on the posterior face of the upper rim, pointing backward toward the wearer's eye.
More precisely: the crutch arm is attached at the inside upper rim, approximately in line with the pupil. It angles gently backward and slightly downward so that when you put the glasses on, the tip of the crutch makes contact with the outer surface of your upper eyelid — just above the lash line. It does not reach the eye itself.
The depth of the frame — the distance between the front of the lens and the back of the rim — determines how much room there is for the crutch arm to extend. This is one reason why full-frame glasses with adequate lens depth are required for this mechanism to work correctly.
The crutch is screwed or crimped into the inner upper rim of the frame. This gives it a fixed base that does not wobble or shift during normal wear. The attachment point is designed to hold the arm firmly while still allowing adjustment when needed.
The crutch arm curves from its attachment point to a smooth, rounded tip. The curve is designed to follow the natural contour of the upper eyelid — it is not a straight rod. This shape allows it to distribute contact gently across the lid rather than pressing at a single hard point.
The tip of the arm — the point that touches the eyelid — is smooth and rounded. On quality frames like the ARTView range, the tip is finished carefully to ensure there are no sharp edges or rough surfaces that could cause irritation during all-day wear.
This is one of the first questions new users ask — and the answer is reassuring. From the front, the crutch is completely invisible. A person looking at you from across a table, in a meeting, or in conversation will see an ordinary pair of glasses.
The crutch arm sits behind the lens plane. The lens itself creates a visual barrier between the crutch and anyone looking at you from the front. The metal or polymer arm is simply not visible from that angle.
From the side — for example, if someone is standing directly to your right or left — a careful observer might notice a small arm extending inward from the frame. But in normal social interaction, this is rarely something other people notice or comment on. Many ARTView users wear these frames in professional settings, at work, and in social situations without anyone remarking on them.
Completely invisible. The crutch is fully hidden behind the lens plane. The glasses look like any other full-frame eyewear.
A small arm may be faintly visible to someone looking from directly beside you. In practice, most people do not notice or comment on it.
If you look at yourself in the mirror while wearing them, you will see your glasses and your eyelid held open — you will not see the crutch itself behind the lens.
The crutch mechanism requires a specific type of frame to work reliably. Understanding this helps explain why ARTView uses full-frame designs exclusively.
A full frame has a complete rim of metal or acetate around the entire lens. This gives the crutch arm a solid, stable base to attach to. The upper rim provides the anchor; the lower rim and sides add rigidity so the frame holds its shape. Without this complete structure, the crutch cannot be correctly positioned.
All six ARTView models are full-frame designs — this is deliberate. The crutch mechanism was engineered specifically for full-frame eyewear, and the frame dimensions are chosen to provide the right amount of depth for the arm to sit correctly.
Rimless glasses have no frame around the lens at all — the lens is drilled and the bridge and temples attach directly to the glass or polycarbonate. There is no rim for the crutch to attach to. Rimless frames cannot be used with a ptosis crutch mechanism.
Semi-rimless frames (also called half-frame or browline glasses) typically only have a rim on the upper half of the lens. While they have an upper rim, the frame structure is usually too thin and flexible to provide the stability the crutch needs. The fit and function of the crutch on a semi-rimless frame is generally unreliable.
If you currently wear rimless or semi-rimless glasses, you would need to switch to a full-frame model for ptosis crutch use. ARTView frames come in six different full-frame styles — rectangle, square, and other shapes — to suit different face shapes and style preferences. Visit our frame selection guide for help choosing.
Each ARTView frame is a full-frame design built specifically to house the ptosis crutch mechanism. Choose by shape, size, and style.
Classic rectangle full frame. Professional appearance, comfortable depth. The crutch arm sits securely in the well-structured upper rim.
Sleek full-frame design with a slightly narrower profile. The crutch is housed within the upper rim depth for a clean finish. Available with prescription.
Generous frame depth gives the crutch arm excellent range of adjustment. Ideal for users needing a wider lens and more eyelid coverage.
No. The crutch arm is fixed to the frame at the attachment point. It is not a clip-on or removable insert — it is mounted into the rim structure. It will not fall out during normal wear, including during physical activity or when taking the glasses on and off.
The lens fills the frame opening as normal. The crutch arm is mounted at the rear face of the upper rim — it does not interfere with the lens itself. The lens sits in front of the crutch and is held in place by the frame in the usual way.
In most cases, no. The ptosis crutch needs to be built into the frame at the point of manufacture. Retrofitting a crutch arm to an existing pair of glasses is technically possible in some cases but rarely gives consistent results. The ARTView range is specifically engineered for the crutch mechanism from the outset.
The crutch arm adds a small amount of weight — typically negligible. ARTView frames are designed with weight balance in mind, and the additional weight of the crutch arm is distributed close to the nose bridge, where it has the least effect on comfort and fit.
It can be fitted on one side or both, depending on whether one or both eyelids are affected by ptosis. You specify this when ordering. The frame looks identical from the front regardless of how many crutch arms are fitted.
Yes. ARTView produces full-frame ptosis crutch glasses in children's sizes. The crutch arm is scaled to fit smaller frames and shorter eyelid heights. See our kids ptosis glasses page for the children's range.
Ptosis crutch glasses are mechanical eyelid support devices designed to assist field of vision. They do not treat the underlying medical condition. Always consult your ophthalmologist for diagnosis and treatment advice.