Do Pinhole Glasses Actually Work for Vision Loss?

There's a new trend on the internet. No, not the Tide POD thing, we're past that. Thankfully. This is something you might have come across wherever people talk about visual impairment or correction: pinhole glasses. Pinhole glasses are an interesting piece of equipment, and you might have worn them for a bit during your last eye exam. However, many people are claiming pinhole glasses have therapeutic benefits — but can these glasses deliver on those promises?

The hype surrounding pinhole glasses 

Pinhole glasses have been a helpful diagnostic tool for eye care professionals for a long time, but do they actually cure anything? There's been a recent trend of people making health claims about these glasses, including that they improve vision. While some research is still ongoing, the answer is no, not really.

Understanding pinhole glasses 

Pinhole glasses look like regular eyeglasses, but instead of lenses, the frames hold screens with tiny pinpricks in them. This limits light passing through the filter, which helps diagnose certain vision issues, such as astigmatism and myopia. The holes let some light through, but enough is screened out to allow more exacting tests to be run. 

Myths and popular beliefs 

While pinhole glasses work well for diagnostic purposes, a number of myths claim they actually treat certain vision impairments. Much of the hype is that they're natural or nonmedical interventions that improve vision while you're wearing them. Other, more ambitious claims revolve around permanent vision correction for common conditions.

These aren't strictly baseless claims. Unlike more than a few health claims you find online, this one comes with a wealth of testimonials from people who attest to their effectiveness. These are anecdotes, but there seem to be a lot of credible-sounding reviews containing the honest and sincere beliefs of people who swear by them.

The reality check on pinhole glasses 

Regular glasses and contact lenses work by letting light in through a medium, such as glass or plastic. The internal properties of the lenses bend light in various ways to properly focus images on your light-sensitive vision cells. Another type of glasses uses filters and polarization to screen out harmful UV light or tamp down the overall light level. 

Pinhole glasses use a different approach. They're able to screen out overlapping light patterns because the holes are small enough to reduce blur and sharpen images. This can work up to a point — the earliest cameras used this method before they had lenses — but science doesn't back up the claims of the glasses' therapeutic value. 

Risk and Safety Concerns 

Unfortunately, pinhole glasses may be ineffective and harmful — like having a drink before a job interview. By limiting the total amount of light reaching your eyes, these glasses reduce your already limited ability to see well. They also block your peripheral vision with a solid plastic barrier, which introduces hazards if you're in a chaotic or dangerous environment or driving. 

There's also the danger of using nonprescription glasses when you should be using lenses. If you're in the market for glasses, you likely have a moderate to serious vision impairment already. Using the wrong glasses or going without correction can make things worse — and your eye care professional will probably tell you to knock it off (in a professional way, of course).

Alternatives to pinhole glasses 

You're always better off working with a professional who can give you a proper diagnosis and provide you with a scientifically validated prescription. You can choose between glasses, contact lenses, and various types of surgery, and your eye care professional can work with you to develop exercises to improve or maintain your eye health.

Diet and exercise are also a big part of good eye health. Keeping a healthy weight can reduce your risk of diabetes, which is a leading cause of blindness. You should also avoid eye strain, use adequate light for reading, and follow the advice of a professional when you're in doubt. An eye care professional, that is — please don't consult a professional skydiver or stuntman about your eyes.

Pinhole glasses: yea or nay? 

It's always exciting to hear about a new method for improving vision, but not every treatment lives up to the hype. Always consult a professional before changing your eye care routine, and remember to get regular eye exams to monitor your eye health. 

FAQs

Do pinhole glasses really work for vision correction?

The jury is still out on presbyopia, a form of age-related farsightedness, but there still isn't positive evidence they work for any condition.

What are the potential risks of using pinhole glasses?

Pinhole glasses reduce the overall amount of light reaching your eyes and disrupt your peripheral vision. This makes them generally unsafe to use while operating heavy machinery or driving.

Can pinhole glasses replace traditional eyeglasses or contact lenses? 

Don't count on pinhole glasses to replace any traditional vision correction. Without evidence-backed reasons to believe they help, eye care professionals probably won't be prescribing them anytime soon.