Wishing all eyes Blind with the pin and web, but theirs, theirs only, That would unseen be wicked. Act I., Sc. II.
Commentators have the thought that Shakespeare wished to express the idea of cataract by the term pin and web—this is, without doubt, a mistake; he did not intend to make lovers so cruel that they should desire to deprive every one else of sight. Pin and web (being a varicose excrescence of the conjunctiva, sometimes to such an extent as to totally prevent vision), was meant to express a veil, or in other words, the eyelid.
Must you with hot irons burn out both mine eyes?
O heaven! that there were but a mote in yours, A grain, a dust, a gnat, a wandering hair, Any annoyance in that precious sense! Then, feeling what small things are boist’rous there, Your vile intent must needs seem horrible. King John, Act IV., Sc. I.
The term “sand-blind” was meant to express a dimness of sight, as if sand had been thrown in the eyes.
Launcelot. O heavens, this is my true-begotten father! who, being more than sand-blind, high-gravel blind, knows me not.
Gobbo. Alack, sir, I am sand-blind, I know you not. Merchant of Venice, Act II., Sc. II.
I remember thine eyes well enough Dost thou squiny at me? King Lear, Act. IV., Sc. VI.