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Pinhole Glasses & Myopia

Physics instructors from Ludwig-Maximilians University in Munich, Germany, and Kansas State University in the United States wrote in a 2008 "The Physics Teacher" article that "modern promoters claim that pinhole glasses are better than conventional lenses in correcting all kinds of refractive defects such as myopia (nearsighted), hyperopia (farsighted), astigmatisms, and presbyopia." Their investigation of the short-term and long-term effects of using pinhole glasses showed temporarily corrected sight.

  1. Pinhole Glasses

    • Pinhole glasses consist of a standard eyeglass frame in which perforated opaque sheets are mounted. Each lens has a series of pinholes that are slightly larger on the side toward the eye. Each pinhole is exactly 3mm away from its neighbor both horizontally and vertically so that the pinholes cover the entire plastic or metal surface.

    Myopia

    • Myopia is near-sightedness, or the ability to see clearly at a near distance, but distant objects appear blurred. This affects a person who has a longer than normal eyeball, making the retina too far away from the lens of the eye. This causes the image of a distant object to form in front of the retina and not in focus to the viewer.

    How Pinhole Glasses Work

    • When a myopic person squints, she simulates the effect of pinhole glasses. By cutting off some of the light entering the pupil, she can temporarily see well. When a near-sighted person puts on pinhole glasses, the same effect occurs. Cutting down on the available light allows the person to see distant objects more clearly.

    Effects of Distance

    • The farther the object viewed by the pinhole glasses wearer, the less the wearer notices the pinholes in the glasses. Trying to read a book results in a honeycomb effect in what is seen. When viewing an object such as a television set at a distance, though, the wearer hardly notices that he wears pinhole glasses..

    Long-Term Effects

    • While wearing pinhole glasses, the myopic person notices improved vision. The effects are not long-lasting, however, according to the research team. Stating that "in the literature no research legitimates the use of pinhole glasses in reduction or prevention of eye aberrations," the team acknowledged the short-term benefits but no lasting correction of vision.

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