Discovered What Was Wrong With All My Telescopes

[Renato1]

I bought three Maks in the last five years, and their images on planets weren't quite as crisp as what I expected. My SCT wasn't that crisp either. Neither were my little refractors. There always seemed to be a soft spot with some slight glare to the side of the planet - but I was really pushing them at high power.

So I kept checking for dirt of the objectives, and on the various diagonals - including a TeleVue one.

Thus earlier this year, I mounted my 4" Vixen APO, which I know is my best telescope and - I got the same result. Maybe, I surmised, I just have lousy atmopheric conditions in this new place I've moved into.

But I found out the cause of all this poor performance the other day. I went for an eye test, and I have moderate cataracts.

Finally, the mystery was solved - how about that?
Cheers,
Renato

[rustigsmed]

I bet those scopes are all impeccably clean!

I guess if you weren't an astronomer it would've taken a lot longer to figure out. what is the solution? glasses / surgery?

Russ

[Neutronstar]

A few months back I went to a very good Optometrist. She said I had the very early signs of cataracts, I'm aged 53. This is fairly typical from what i was told and understand. (anyone know better?)
I have to say though the points through my little Tak FS60Q looks pretty sharp.

I believe my low light sensitivity is down also.
Oh, getting old ain't fun.

[Renato1]

Hi Russ,
The optometrist said I will need surgery in 5 years time. Though I might get it done sooner if those planet images keep getting worse. But the thought of the scalpel cutting into my eyes while I am wide awake, puts me off somewhat.

Maybe half a bottle of Scotch before the operation would help.
Regards,
Renato

[Renato1]

You aren't wrong - the points through my Vixen APO were very sharp four years ago too.

My Optometerist said the same sort of thing when I asked "How Come?" He said it was age and genetics. Though I don't understand quite why I am following in the footsteps of my two uncles who came to Australia. My dad here and his brothers and sister who stayed in Italy never got cataracts. No cataracts on my mother's side either. And I've worn sunglasses since I started driving.
Regards,
Renato

[rustigsmed]

might need to upsize the aperture :)



yeah that doesn't sound too enticing. might need a couple half bottles!

[uwahl]

Don't have cataracts but I have something called Fuchs Distrophy which means that the lens of the eye has a golf ball dimpled surface instead of being smooth. Result is blurred vision and the treatment is the same - lens replacement surgery. Visual observations are less than ideal for me hence I am learning to use a ccd camera.

[Hans Tucker]

Umm...I don't think I will ever again complain about eye floaters.

[Occulta]

Renato

Do not PANIC regarding the surgery and get it done as early as practicable.

You are under sedation and feel no pain during or after the operation and it is amazing the contrast and colour clarity that you will see as soon as the Dr. removes the bandages.

Get it done.

Chris

[Neutronstar]

Oh, no, Don't get me started on floaters.
I've had them forever but lately I have stopped ignoring them.
The only trick I have is if I ignore them they kind of don't bother me much.
Seems most of the population have some or a lot.

[raymo]

Don't worry Renato, you can feel nothing, and see nothing, except a
white brightness. The only slight nuisance is the eyedrops you have to use for a while afterwards. I had one done a while back, and have no
problems with having the other one done in a few months time.
raymo

[Renato1]

I've never heard of that one. At least be thankful that it's fixable.
Best wishes,
Renato

[Renato1]

Good point, annoying as they are, at least flaoters float away some of the time.
Cheers,
Renato

[Renato1]

Thanks for the encouragement Chris. It will be interesting to see what I see after the operation.

I think one reason I haven't noticed the deterioration is because some seven years ago I switched from $20 to $30 chemist sunglasses to heavily discounted, formerly very expensive designer sunglasses that cost me $35 to $40. I don't know what effect is at play, but colour and contrast is greatly enhanced in the more expensive pairs for me, and I wear them all the time outside.
Regards,
Renato

[Renato1]

Thanks very much for sharing your experience. It does de-stress me somewhat.
Cheers,
Renato

[Occulta]

I have had both eyes done and it was amazing the difference it made, especially after the first one, and then to be able to make comparisons between each eye.
The problem with cataracts is the gradual change in eye functionality. This then allows the brain to compensate for the change and for you not to notice how bad your eyes have become. As a diabetic I have my eyes checked every 6 months and it was easy for my opthalmologist to see the cataracts forming. Most people, unfortunately, only see Drs when something is noticeably wrong.

Chris

[Renato1]

Hi Chris,
Thanks for your sharing your experience. I was using as my guide to whether my eyes had changed how well my eyeglasses showed the night sky. And for 30 years or more, the sky looked pretty good and my scrip remained pretty much unchanged. So I knew for most of that time that I had nothing much to worry about. I can't honestly say that even with the cataracts I saw any difference in the night sky through eyeglasses. But my scrip finally changed this time, as I went from being short sighted to long sighted - apparently I've been pushing my eyes to see the sky as dots. whereas I am supposed to see the star dots with relaxed eyeballs with the new scrip.

I paid the extra $60 to get the OPSM eye scan. And the good part of the eye testing was that I had no issue at all with bleeding arteries in the retina, which is the main problem for diabetics.
Cheers,
Renato

[Baddad]

Hi Renato,:)

I have had the operation. My left eye was bad. Even trying to do simple things was difficult. Judging distances close up or far away was a hassle. I would miss placing the key into its hole or driving and approaching a stationary car I always braked early and slowed well down, much to the annoyance of other drivers.

Come the operation. I spoke with others. They said it is virtually nothing.
Still I was concerned. The biggest hassle of it all, looking back, was finding a car park. The operation, no blood, no pain and sedated, "Oh finished? That was quick, I was wondering when you were starting?"
That is what its like, and as its been mentioned the hardest part of the whole thing is making sure you remember the eye-drops for the next few weeks.

The result? Wow, I can see as though I were 20 yrs old. Whites are whiter, the colours brighter and the resolved detail is quite distinct.
You will wonder what the heck you were worried about and when you meet someone with a similar concern. It will be, "Go and get it done. do not wait (repeating everything that has been told to you)

It really is minor Renato. Just do it.:);)

[raymo]

It's a shame you went to OPSM, it's free at Specsavers.
raymo

[Renato1]

Hi Marty,
Thanks very much for your encouragement and detailed explanation.
It's better to view the operation as something to look forward to, rather than something to be in trepidation about.
Cheers,
Renato

[Renato1]

Really! Very interesting, thanks very much.
Regards,
Renato

[Steffen]

A question for those who had cataract surgery, are the replacement lenses fixed focus, or are they attached to the ciliary muscle and change shape for focusing?

If they are fixed focus, are they set for infinity (meaning you need glasses for anything closer than a metre or so)? If they are set for infinity, how good is that infinity focus, e.g. when looking up at the night sky?

[Robert9]

Hi Renato, I have had both eyes fitted with new lenses. No pain, no strain! My lenses are fixed focus set to a mid-range working distance. I wear glasses all the time because I also have astigmatism, particularly in the right eye, but I find I can focus my scopes to accommodate my vision and use my left eye. My eyes were done a bit over 10 years ago and have not given me any trouble. I do understand that there may be new technology which allow for muscular control of focus, but don't know details. I'm sure your optometrist will know.
No fun getting old, but this op. will definitely work. Do it!
Robert

[Renato1]

Thanks Robert,
I must say I hadn't thought about the focus aspect. I have astigmatism too, but despite having lenses made by various manufacturers, I've never been able to use my glasses to read a book or a star atlas at the telescope. or even just for general wear because they make me feel 3 foot tall and they distort everything (tables look the food is about to roll off, doors look like rhombuses). So I only use them for looking at stars or driving at 100kph in dark places at night. They did make me a less strong pair of glasses for use on the computer or reading books - but I still found them annoying at those tasks, and it distorted the night sky a lot too.

So when you look at the night sky with eyeglasses, do you still see relatively good star points and crisp views of say the Eta Carina region? Are the eyeglasses set to compensate for the mid range working distance of the eye lenses? Or would one need on set of eyeglasses for the night sky, and one for more general use?

Thanks for any info you can give me.
Cheers,
Renato

[raymo]

Steffen, As far as I know, they are still fixed focus. You can opt for close focus for reading etc: and need to wear glasses for everything else, or infinity focus and only need glasses for close up use. Some people opt for one of each. I simulated that, and found it an unpleasant sensation, so went with infinity for both eyes. I can just read my car instruments, so only need glasses for reading. The moon is pin sharp for me. Of course
some people will have pre-existing eye problems that will not be
corrected by lenses.
raymo

[Robert9]

Hi Renato,
I have to say that I have just no problems with my glasses. I am surprised that you do. On one occasion the lens maker made a mistake with the astigmatism correction and the vision made me feel very unstable. But that was easily fixed when the new lenses were fitted. I do seem to recall in the now distant past when I was but a lad, that my first pair of glasses with astigmatism correction took a little time to get used to, but since then no problems.
Nowadays, with progressive focus lenses in your specs. there are no problems moving your vision from distant (ie infinity) to close-up for reading. So, skies are beautiful (when Melbourne weather allows) and I can read a book with no discomfort. I do have a second pair of specs. specifically for when I'm reading music (I play clarinet in a couple of orchestras). These also have progressive focus lenses but are designed to give me a larger region of focus at the distance my music is from my face. But I still see clearly at a variable distance and can drive the car without problems while wearing them. The design of lenses nowadays is such that they can match virtually any requirement you might have.
I would suggest that if you do a lot of work in say a workshop, where distant vision is not critical, that you have another pair made which will accommodate your requirements.
When I'm at the scope just viewing, I can comfortably remove my glasses and just observe using my left eye directly at the eyepiece. The focus adjustment of the scope seems to be adequate to compensate for any inadequacy of my eye. ( so I don't especially need a large eye-relief e.p. )
But before any of this glasses bit comes the op. My eyes were done one at a time and a fortnight apart. I haven't looked back.
Incidentally, you can also get a photo-chromic coating on the lenses which allow them to darken when outside in the bright light, so you don't need sunglasses. (although you may still need them - or fit-overs - if driving your car as the windscreen filters out the UV.
Anything more you would like to know of my experiences, I'll always be happy to answer.
Don't worry, do it! :)
Robert

[Renato1]

Thanks Robert,
Your experience is extremely interesting to one such as me - who has had about 14 pairs of eyeglasses from four different manufacturers in the last 35 years, since discovering this problem - and who has never had any luck using them the way that you have. There is no way that my brain can compress the image of a door that is twice as wide at the top to what it is at the bottom, into something that resembles a regular door.

Strangely, other than on the internet, I don't recollect ever actually meeting anyone else with astigmatism with whom to compare notes. Apparently, my vision is somewhat unusual - which may explain why I have the difficulty with eyeglasses. My optometerist from four years ago said to me that technically, given my scrip, I should be wearing eyeglasses all the time when driving. But that in practice, I was outperforming my scrip significantly when doing the test of reading the letters on her chart.

Which makes me wonder if in practice, given my odd vision, I will get as great and smooth a result as you are obviously enjoying. Hopefully I will, and I will eventually find out.
Cheers,
Renato

[Robert9]

Renato, you certainly do seem to have quite a severe astigmatism problem. In your situation I would be seeking advice from an opthamologist before doing anything more. I have not had it done, but I understand that laser surgery on the cornea can correct astigmatism. I would think one would have this done prior to having cataract surgery, but an opthomologist - not optometrist, would be my choice of action before cataract surgery. Your optometrist should be able to give you give you a referral.
Robert

[Renato1]

Thanks Robert,
I never knew such a thing as an opthamologist existed or might be of any use to me.
Cheers,
Renato

[PCH]

Pretty sure you both mean Opthalmologist ;)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ophthalmology

...just in case you were going to google it.

[Robert9]

Oh dear. Back to school.:lol:

[Steffen]

I'm sure the three of you mean ophthalmologist.



Well, we might as well settle on o*logist. There is a reason words are the way they are.

[Robert9]

I guess what I really mean is "Go and get specialist advice."
Robert ( looking at primary school vacancies :D )