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Pinhole glasses, or stenopeic glasses, look like traditional eyeglasses * but with a twist. Essentially, they*re eyeglasses with multiple pinhole perforations on each lens, and instead of glass, the lenses are made of dark plastic. Pinhole glasses allow only a very narrow beam of light to enter the eye, which then increases a person's depth of field vision and reduces the retina's blur circle.

For people suffering with myopia or other refractive errors in their eyes, pinhole glasses allow the individual to have clearer vision without the use of corrective lenses. In some cases, users of pinhole glasses have asserted that they can become a vision correction tool and eliminate forms of eye strain brought about by excessive computer use.

In an eye without aid, sometimes referred to as a *weak eye*, the light that enters the eye is not focused all on the same retinal location. Certain rays of light require extra focusing by the eye in order to create a clear image, which can strain one's eye and cause damage. With a pinhole lens, only certain rays of light are allowed to form an image directly on one's retina, ensuring that the blur circle is eliminated and the clear image is not blocked. The multiple pinholes on a pinhole lens thus allow multiple clear images without the eye needing to strain for focus.

Pinhole glasses can be used by any individual who has even a small amount of blurred vision, regardless of age. Some of the more common uses for pinhole glasses are:

Use as a natural solution instead of reading glasses
Young children who have difficulties reading their classroom board
Watching television or movies at the theatre
Reading labels on store products and menus

It should be noted that while using pinholes for reading, it is a good idea to have a light nearby, since some natural light is blocked in order to make the vision clear. Notably, pinholes cannot be used in all situations * anyone with over 6 diopters of myopia may not find the glasses entirely useful and will likely still have some blurring.

The popularity of pinhole glasses has waned in recent years, and proponents of these glasses place the blame squarely on the optical industry. Since pinhole glasses can be used for many very minor vision problems as well as larger ones, and because pinhole glasses cost significantly less than ground glass lenses, the optical industry may stand to lose revenue from the popularity of this product.

Over the years, the outward appearance of pinhole glasses has shifted to reflect a more modern look. Current pinhole glasses are nearly identical to a pair of typical sunglasses, which has resulted in a more confident use of the glasses in public. The pinhole pattern is printed on the back of the lens, with a clear plastic lens on the front to provide UV protection. However, since pinhole glasses reduce the amount of one's peripheral vision, it is recommended that they be used only when sitting or standing still.