Emergency Glasses

Whilst inspecting a through-plating hole on a printed circuit board recently, I noticed an effect which amazed me...

...simply looking through a narrow hole can dramatically improve the clarity of vision.

So, here is a simple do-it-yourself pair of glasses you can make in less than a minute, should you find yourself without your normal glasses, and struggling to focus on something.

Get a piece of thin cardboard about 5 cm x 5cm. (2 x 2 inches). A dark colour is better, if you can find black or dark card.

Make a small pin-prick hole about 2 to 3mm diameter (1/12 to 1/8 inch) in the middle of the card.

Hold the card up to one eye and look through the hole - instantly improved clarity!



Not ideal, as the brightness and field of view is reduced, but this can make the difference between being able to read something or not.

Make a pair, spaced apart to suit the distance between your eyes. Not beautiful, and probably not something you'd want to be seen out in public with, but a simple solution in an emergency.

You don't even need card. If you cross your thumb and index finger, you can make a narrow hole which will achieve the same effect.

Hope it helps.


Graham Laming