Do pinhole glasses actually work?

Question

I play tennis, and you need good vision for overheads, judging line calls etc. but my vision is failing me and i am considering buying a pair of pinhole glasses.

To the people who have worn them before or are currently doing so, do they actually work?

If so, where can i buy them, at a store, or off the internet (or both)? And the price range would likely be...?

Answer 1

Pinhole glasses can give some improvement in vision, but not nearly as much as standard correction with glasses or contacts.  They are a gimmick, not a practical product.  They also will have absolutely no improvement for vision loss that is non-refractive, such as retinal problems.  They will also be very poor performing for a dynamic sport like tennis because it will be hard to maintain your view of the ball through a hole or series of holes.  Companies selling these pinhole glasses have been investigated and sometimes shut down by the FDA for misleading claims and related issues.  You should talk to your eye doctor about your visual needs to obtain optimal correction.

Answer 2

No, they don't work....they have been around for years and are just another scam.

You will see a sharper image while you have them on because it is focusing light in a smaller area, but it won't change or improve your vision at all.   Regardless of their false claims.

It also makes you look like a fly....and you have no peripheral vision with them on.

Someone else asked about them a few hours ago also and had included a link to an e-bay site.