Glasses off - glasses on - Aaarrgghh!

[chrisp9au (Chris)]

I'm looking for a solution to a rather frustrating problem!

My eyesight is not getting any better I'm afraid.

Looking through the eyepiece I don't have any problems, I just focus to what suits my eyes.

The problem is when I want to select another object on my Argo Navis.
I have to put my glasses on to focus on the Argo Navis readout, otherwise it's just an orange blur, from any distance!

Is there any sort of lens that I could attach over the Argo Navis screen to make it more readable for me, saving me from having to put my glasses back on?
I've tried adjusting the brightness and contrast on the Argo Navis but without any success.

I have a cord on my glasses around my neck, that means that they are always at hand, but with a beanie on, it's a pain in the you know where!
It's cold out tonight, beanie and gloves are essential for me!

I'm sure I'm not the only one with the problem, so maybe somebody has found an answer?

Cheers
Chris

[dugnsuz (Doug)]

I feel your pain Chris

I suppose contacts would be the answer to our problems - just don't like the idea myself (but must add that I haven't tried em) - would seem to make sense though specifically for the reasons you've stated.

For me - I'm shortsighted - I need glasses for any assessment of the sky, but have to remove them for setting up DSLR etc, then quickly replace spex to look up!! Pain in the ask!

I may check out contacts - I've convinced myself by replying to your thread Chris!!

Good Luck
Doug

[Greenswale (Wren)]

You are not alone with this frustration! I have considered a monocle.....then the unencumbered eye to the eyepiece, the spectacled eye to read stuff.

And one could wear a balaclava - no need to find ears for support?

[mercedes_sl1970]

Chris

If you don't have too much astigmatism could you attach a small magnifying glass lens? There are some rectangular ones that may do. It may not be the most elegant solution.

Andrew

[dugnsuz (Doug)]

Originally Posted by Greenswale

You are not alone with this frustration! I have considered a monocle.....then the unencumbered eye to the eyepiece, the spectacled eye to read stuff.

Top Ho Wren, what what!

(good idea too - would give my wife a laugh to boot!)

[TrevorW]

Go over to imaging visuals a pain when you need two pair of glasses

[astroron (Ron)]

I wear Contact lenses, I cannot stomuch glasses when observing at the eyepiece,but have reading glasses hanging round my neck to look at the Argo or charts.

[strongmanmike (Michael)]

Chris I am not sure there is an easy answer for you..? Maybe a permanent magnifyer attached to the Argo display..?

Doug, have you considered Lasik eye surgery? I had it back in 99 and haven't "looked" back no problems with observing at all.

Mike

[dugnsuz (Doug)]

Originally Posted by strongmanmike

Doug, have you considered Lasik eye surgery? I had it back in 99 and haven't "looked" back no problems with observing at all.

Mike

I've always worried about the procedure - my job involves looking down a microscope daily, screening for +/- malignancy in cells - if anything went wrong my immediate livelihood would be gone too. So I've been wary.
Good to hear you've had a good experience with it Mike. How long were your eyes 'out of action' ie not 100%?
Doug

[Steffen]

I'm sick of taking my glasses off and on all the time, too. I was thinking of taking my spare pair and popping the lens out of one side. Haven't done it yet, I've only got one spare. Also, I have yet to confirm that the empty frame will let me get close enough to all my eyepieces.

Cheers
Steffen.

[chrisp9au (Chris)]

Thank you everyone!

A monocle sounds like a great idea! Maybe a flip up type of arrangement?

I'm now on a pension so contacts are probably too expensive, and surgery seems a bit over the top!

And as for changing to imaging, forget it, far too expensive.
I like to look through my telescope, not sit for hours whilst a camera does it's work!
And anyway, if I want to look at astro images, I'm on the right website!

Maybe I'll have a talk to the optometrist in town, I'm supposed to go in for my bi-annual checkup.

I'll let you know what eventuates.

Thanks again!

Cheers
Chris

[ngcles]

Hi Chris,

Why not just a magnifying glass you can keep near the Argo, just pick it up when you need it, put it down when you're done.


Best,

Les D

[strongmanmike (Michael)]

Originally Posted by dugnsuz

I've always worried about the procedure - my job involves looking down a microscope daily, screening for +/- malignancy in cells - if anything went wrong my immediate livelihood would be gone too. So I've been wary.
Good to hear you've had a good experience with it Mike. How long were your eyes 'out of action' ie not 100%?
Doug

Common concern you express there Doug and I too was aprehensive but there are more complications that cause eye damage from the wearing of contact lenses than from Lasik surgery - it's like the old scared of flying but don't think twice about getting in a car conondrum . Once it's done you wont know yourself. My wife was a practise manager of a laser eye clinic and in two and a half years and many hundreds of eye surgeries they had only one serious complication which although pretty distressing for the individual they did eventually make a good recovery. I had good inside information that made me pretty well informed

Although a little watery, I could see instantly after getting off the laser, my surgeon did both eyes in one sitting so in about 20min I could see 100% perfectlyit was amazing. My eyes felt a little scratchy - like the feeling you might have say 10min after you poke yourself in the eye with your finger but it was gone the next day. It was a bit like living in a fish bowl initially everything was so clear and sharp (no dirty glass) until my brain got used to not having the looking through a window effect that glasses give.

So far 10 years on all is ok, although I still have slight residual astigmatism that the laser couldn't fully correct - I could get glasses to correct for this just so I can see the very faintest stars in the sky naked eye but it has no effect on eyepiece viewing at the scope. I notice the astigmatism when viewing images at a standard sitting distance from my computer screen that have tiny stars, they are elongated but this is the same for anyone with astigmatism and moving my eyes closer to the screen fixes it.

Mike

[strongmanmike (Michael)]

Originally Posted by chrisp9au

I'm now on a pension so contacts are probably too expensive, and surgery seems a bit over the top!

Cheers
Chris

Lasik can't correct long sightedness due to age aka presbyopia (need reading glasses).

Things may have progressed since my eyes were done I don't know.

Mike

[GrahamL]

Yes its a really annoying little hiccup isn't it Chris

The only thing you need the glasses for , and if you hang them round your neck they are always bumping into stuff when you lean forward.

I've started working on a little flip up arrangement for the screen
But what lens to put in it ?

I 've bought one of those plastic A4 magnifier pages from the newsagent for a few $ and plan to cut it to shapeand see if its still
works and stays together , if so , some sort of little clip on
arrangement might be the go .

graham

[erick (Eric)]

Sounds like there is a market for an optional extra here - Gary?

[Dennis]

Hoodman flip up spectacles?

http://www.hoodmanusa.com/products.asp?dept=1067

Cheers

Dennis

[AdrianF (Adrian)]

Try the magnifying lens we welders use. They are rectangular and are made to fit in the welding shield viewing screen. They don't cost much and I find, for what they are used for, they are great.
I have to wear glasses all the time no matter what I do.

Just a thought.

Adrian

[chrisp9au (Chris)]

Originally Posted by erick

Sounds like there is a market for an optional extra here - Gary?

Agreed, come on Gary, everyone knows your after sales service is just the best!

Cheers
Chris

[chrisp9au (Chris)]

Originally Posted by AdrianF

Try the magnifying lens we welders use. They are rectangular and are made to fit in the welding shield viewing screen. They don't cost much and I find, for what they are used for, they are great.
I have to wear glasses all the time no matter what I do.

Just a thought.

Adrian

Found one on ebay, $17, 51mm x 104mm, just the right size for the Argo Navis.

I like the idea of not having to use glasses at all, so I'll also look around for that A4 magnifyer to use with my observing lists.

I'll let you know how it goes!

Thanks for the idea!

Cheers
Chris