How do pinhole glasses work?

Pinhole glasses to improve eyesight are made up of a black grid of holes.

When using pinhole glasses you can see better because the holes cause the light to concentrate and enter in a straight line, hitting directly on the macula (central area of the retina), the point of greatest visual acuity. This is due to the pinhole principle.

When using pinhole glasses we must look through one hole at a time, jumping our gaze from one point to another. This avoids staring and favors the continued movement of the eyes. After using them the eyes are relaxed and more alive, and the visual perception is usually better than before. This effect is temporary and requires perseverance to acquire a more permanent character.

Pinhole efect

Pinhole glasses are an excellent tool for visual improvement and it is recommended to use them instead of prescription glasses (except for driving and risky sports) whenever possible: the negative effect of these is avoided, while the vision is being re-educated with use of the reticular glasses. Its continued use supposes a true ocular stimulation: the eyes relax and move more.

By the negative effect of prescription glasses, we understand the fact that when seeing a larger fragment of the visual field clearly than would be normal, saccadic movements are disadvantaged, which are a natural movement of the eyes, these movements are short-lived in very short weather. In turn, they disadvantage the use of the focusing mechanism compared to reticular glasses. Still, in general, prescription glasses are preferable to nothing at all.

If you need glasses to read, watch television, use the computer, ... that is, to see far away or see up close, you can use reticular glasses, which will help you reduce eye stress, improve your visual acuity and keep the visual system stimulated.

Ocular stress is mainly the effect of keeping the gaze at the same distance or almost invariably and in a reduced or null range of movements for long periods of time and routinely has a cumulative effect. In general, it occurs when looking at stationary flat objects such as: televisions, computer monitors, tablets. This effect also usually occurs in the study, or reading, and with greater probability if it is done with the use of prescription glasses, or contact lenses, compared to reticular glasses. Focusing at different distances has to be done frequently, generally looking further away, for which reticle glasses are ideal.

They are highly recommended for all those people who have any vision symptoms such as myopia, astigmatism, hyperopia and presbyopia or tired eyesight, in general for any symptom that glasses or contact lenses are prescribed.

Pinhle glasses in most cases require an adaptation period related to patience and eye movement. Supplied with instruction booklet.

>How to choose the right pinhole glasses?

Glasses for myopia.

  • Up to -1.5 diopters: pyramidal (except computer and similar)
  • Between -1.5 - 5.5 diopters: conical (also for computer users from 0 to 5.5 diopters)
  • Between -5.5 and -14 diopters: fine conical holes
  • Between 0 and -14 diopters: hexagonal
  • More than -14 diopters: fine pyramid holes

If you have astigmatism and myopia: Add myopia + astigmatism (in absolute values, without negative signs) for each eye and choose as above.

Glasses for farsightedness.

  • Up to 1.5 diopters: pyramidal (except computer and similar)
  • Between 1.5 and 5.5 diopters: conical (also for computer scientists from 0 to 5.5 diopters)
  • Between 5.5 and 14 diopters: fine conical holes
  • Between 0 and 14 diopters: hexagonal
  • More than 14 diopters: fine pyramid holes

If you have astigmatism and farsightedness: Add astigmatism + farsightedness for each eye and proceed as above.

If you have farsightedness and myopia (with or without astigmatism)

In addition to the use of reticle glasses, it is necessary to carry out practices aimed at improving the near-far focusing mechanism. To choose, the symptom of more graduation is considered, and astigmatism is added if there is one.

Glasses for presbyopia.

  • Up to 1.5 diopters: pyramidal (except computer and similar)
  • Between 1.5 and 5.5 diopters: conical (also for computer scientists from 0 to 5.5 diopters)
  • Between 5.5 and 14 diopters: fine conical holes
  • Between 0 and 14 diopters: hexagonal
  • More than 14 diopters: fine pyramid holes

If you have presbyopia and astigmatism: Add presbyopia + astigmatism for each eye and proceed as above.

If you have myopia and presbyopia (with or without astigmatism)

In addition to the use of reticle glasses, practices aimed at improving the near-far focusing mechanism are required. To choose, the symptom of more graduation is considered, and astigmatism is added if there is one.

Glasses for astigmatism (No myopia, hyperopia, presbyopia)

  • Up to 1.5 diopters: pyramidal (except computer and similar)
  • Between 1.5 and 5.5 diopters: conical (also for computer scientists from 0 to 5.5 diopters)
  • Between 5.5 and 14 diopters: fine conical holes
  • Between 0 and 14 diopters: hexagonal
  • More than 14 diopters: fine pyramid holes

Types of Pinhole Glasses

Pyramid pinhole glasses
Pyramid Pinhole Glasses
Pyramidal holes have a square base on the outside and are finer on the inside. The alignment is orthogonal. Pyramidal holes reduce the phenomenon of diffraction halos present in round or cylindrical holes. This phenomenon is especially annoying when watching television or using the computer, tablet or smartphone.

They are suitable for vision problems less than a diopter and a half except for computer scientists and people who use the computer a lot. Suitable for myopia, astigmatism, hyperopia and mild presbyopia (from 0 to 1.5 diopters). If you have astigmatism and other symptoms, the graduation is added to calculate.

Conical pinhole glasses
Conical Pinhole Glasses
Conical holes are smaller near the eye and more open on the outside. This reduces the phenomenon of diffraction halos present in round or cylindrical holes. They are also the favorites of most people who can try different types of reticular glasses.

They are suitable for medium myopia, astigmatism, hyperopia and presbyopia. Recommended from 1.5 to 5.5 diopters and also for computer scientists or people who use a lot of the computer (computer) from 0 to 5.5 diopters. If you have astigmatism and other symptoms, the graduation is added to calculate.

Fine hole glassesFine Hole Glasses

They can be both conical and pyramidal but smaller. Therefore they also reduce the phenomenon of direction halos present in round or cylindrical holes.


People with problems of more than 5.5 diopters usually need narrower holes to see properly. The conical glasses with fine holes are suitable for high myopia, astigmatism, hyperopia and presbyopia (from 5.5 to 14 diopters). Pyramid glasses with fine holes are the only ones suitable for very high prescriptions (more than 14* diopters). If you have astigmatism and other symptoms, the graduation is added to calculate.

Hexagonal Pinhole Glasses

The holes of these glasses are hexagonal. They combine the advantages of conical and pyramidal glasses. They also reduce the phenomenon of diffraction halos.


They are valid for almost all graduations, low, medium and high. They are suitable for myopia, astigmatism, hyperopia and presbyopia (for any number of diopters up to 14). If you have astigmatism and other symptoms, the graduation is added to calculate.