A shape measuring apparatus for eyeglasses which is arranged to measure a contour shape of an eyeglass element, comprising: a holder which is arranged to hold the eyeglass element; a holder swing mechanism which is arranged to swing the holder around a virtual rotational axis set outside of the shape measuring apparatus for eyeglasses, the holder swing mechanism including a rail member, which is fixed to the holder and is formed in an arc-shape centering on the virtual rotational axis and at least a pair of rollers (406, 407), which is arranged to sandwich the rail member (406, 407) from above and below; a measuring element which is arranged to trace a surface of the eyeglass element; a driver (6, 18) which is arranged to drive the measuring element; a position detector (24, 40) which is arranged to detect a position of the measuring element; and a controlling-calculating section which is arranged to control the driver (6, 18) and to obtain and process position information of the measuring element detected by the position detector (24, 40), wherein, in a state in which the eyeglass element is held by the holder, the controlling-calculating section is arranged to control the driver (6, 18) to slide the measuring element on the surface of the eyeglass element, so that the measuring element traces a three-dimensional shape of the eyeglass element and the three-dimensional shape of eyeglass element is obtained based on information of a driving state of the driver (6, 18) and the position information of the measuring element detected by the position detector (24, 40). a holder which is arranged to hold the eyeglass element; a holder swing mechanism which is arranged to swing the holder around a virtual rotational axis set outside of the shape measuring apparatus for eyeglasses, the holder swing mechanism including a rail member, which is fixed to the holder and is formed in an arc-shape centering on the virtual rotational axis and at least a pair of rollers (406, 407), which is arranged to sandwich the rail member (406, 407) from above and below; a measuring element which is arranged to trace a surface of the eyeglass element; a driver (6, 18) which is arranged to drive the measuring element; a position detector (24, 40) which is arranged to detect a position of the measuring element; and a controlling-calculating section which is arranged to control the driver (6, 18) and to obtain and process position information of the measuring element detected by the position detector (24, 40), wherein, in a state in which the eyeglass element is held by the holder, the controlling-calculating section is arranged to control the driver (6, 18) to slide the measuring element on the surface of the eyeglass element, so that the measuring element traces a three-dimensional shape of the eyeglass element and the three-dimensional shape of eyeglass element is obtained based on information of a driving state of the driver (6, 18) and the position information of the measuring element detected by the position detector (24, 40). wherein, in a state in which the eyeglass element is held by the holder, the controlling-calculating section is arranged to control the driver (6, 18) to slide the measuring element on the surface of the eyeglass element, so that the measuring element traces a three-dimensional shape of the eyeglass element and the three-dimensional shape of eyeglass element is obtained based on information of a driving state of the driver (6, 18) and the position information of the measuring element detected by the position detector (24, 40).