The Burke

The Burke Prescription Glasses

A softly squared frame is one of the most versatile shapes around. The Burke is a men’s full-rim metal soft square frame, sized 54-17-145, in Grey Gradient, Teal or Tort. You can order it with single vision, varifocal or bifocal lenses made to your prescription. It is part of our Original Penguin collection.

Choosing your The Burke colour

Grey Gradient. The Grey Gradient version is crystal grey fade. It is cool, modern and understated, and it suits grey or silver hair especially well.

Teal. In Teal, the frame is translucent teal. It pairs well with neutrals, denim and earthy colours.

Tort. The Tort version is tortoiseshell. It warms up the face and sits nicely alongside camel, olive and cream.

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

About The Burke design

The softened corners suit round, oval and heart-shaped faces, adding a little shape without looking severe. The colour fades from darker at the top to lighter at the bottom, which gives the frame depth and keeps it from looking heavy.

The crystal finish is clear and fresh, and it lets your features take centre stage. The translucent finish lets light through, so the frame looks lighter and softer than a solid colour. Metal lets the frame stay slim and light while keeping its shape.

The Burke is a great everyday frame: smart enough for work and relaxed enough for the weekend.

How to wear it

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

The 54mm lenses put it at the upper end of medium. 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 125mm.

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 Burke

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

• Single vision: the same prescription from edge to edge.
• Bifocal: distance at the top and a reading segment at the bottom.
• Varifocal: a smooth change from distance to reading, with no line.
• Ready readers: a fixed magnification for books, phones and screens.

With a stronger prescription, a thinner high-index lens keeps the edges slim, and an anti-reflective coating cuts reflections from screens and street lights.

Before you order

Make sure your prescription is in date; most adults in the UK are advised to have an eye test every two years, and your optician will tell you if you need one sooner. You will also need your PD, which tells our lab where to centre the lenses. With those two things ready, ordering takes a few minutes: choose your colour, pick your lenses, enter your details and you are done.

How your glasses are made

Every pair is made to order in our own UK lab. Your lenses are cut to your prescription, fitted into your The Burke and checked by our technicians before they are sent out.

Keep them looking new

Rinse off any grit before you wipe, dry the lenses with a clean microfibre cloth, and take your glasses off with both hands so the arms stay aligned. See our lens care guide for more.

Your questions, answered

What size is it?

It is size 54-17-145: 54mm lens width, 17mm bridge and 145mm arms, a medium fit.

Can I use The Burke as computer glasses?

Yes. Single vision lenses set to your screen distance, or varifocals if you also need distance vision, both work well for desk work.

What does crystal mean?

A clear, see-through finish.

Where are my lenses made?

In our UK optical lab. They are cut to your prescription, fitted into your frame and checked before they are sent out.

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