Scopes and vari-focal glasses

[Mossypaw]

I have a problem
I’ve been wearing vari-focal lenses for a few years now, but as the eyes get older, I guess the lenses get more biased towards the near sight image. Now when I shoulder a rifle it is impossible to get both the sight picture and reticle in focus.
I thought it was the scopes at first but after buying various different scopes with no better outcome I now realise it’s me/my glasses.
Had anyone who wears vari-focals overcome this ?
Is it merely that I need to alter my head position with an elevated cheek piece, so looking through the bottom of the lense (not easy when prone) or do I wear single vision lenses when shooting ? (not easy, generally)
Any help greatly appreciated.

 

[Malxwal]

I have astigmatism,since birth I imagine. As of forty years of age, reading glasses became a thing. I wear different varieties of vari focal, but not when I'm outside doing stuff, where I stick to distance vision (which is what works through binos/scopes.

 

[alasdair]

for some years I got away with varifocals but like you as I get older the less well they work with riflescopes in particular and to a lesser extent with binoculars, thermal imagers and SLR type cameras with viewfinders.
I keep my specs on all the time when stalking. I could adjust the focus on binoculars and thermal imager (and indeed the riflescope) such that I got perfect focus without spectacles, I could then take specs off for scoping but need them on while walking around - but taking my specs off in the field is a NoNo, as I'd surely put them down somewhere and then couldn't see to find them.

About two years ago I got a pair of single vision distance lenses (non-reflecting and oleophobic) and was amazed how much better it was for the riflescope (most noticeably when working up reloads - i.e. longer range time and shooting from prone).

I now wear the single vision lenses, with comparatively small lenses mounted in frames such that the lens is as close to my eyes as possible, for all my stalking and rifle work (my eyelashes are not as long as when I was younger and used to brush against such close mounted lenses!). I don't need close vision while stalking and can manage the gralloch without close vision lenses (though sometimes I change back to varifocals for the gralloch and walk home, if I know I'll not be shooting another on that session). I make sure the clock/time in my thermal imager display is accurate so don't need to look at watch or phone.
Modern large lens spectacles tend to mount the lens too far from the eye as they have to clear eyebrows and cheek - and that messes up binocular and thermal imager work. Riflescopes usually have plenty eye relief so lens size and distance from eye to spectacle lens is less critical.

by the way:
If I get mud splattered on specs while out and there's no clean running water to hand to rinse them, I'll lick them clean rather than use a cloth.

Alasdair in the Pentlands.

 

[Ronin]

Absolutely hate wearing glasses though at an age where they are necessity for driving or close fine work

I don’t wear whilst stalking or at competition having ajusted the scope and binos / thermal to suit un corrected eyesight

 

[Cymro]

I had exactly the same problem, a cheap pair of specs in my distance prescription sorted it

 

[Stalker62]

One day contact lenses.

If I am using a scoped rifle, pop one in my left eye.
If I am using iron sights, pop one in my right eye.

Pop it in as I leave the house, tear it out as I get home.

 

[Len the dog]

Same problem here, have worn varifocals for a few years and had two problems when shooting.
1. Looking through a scope, the slightest head movement, or awkward alignment due to positioning, meant eveything going South regards focus, especially lying prone.
2. Looking along the top rib of a shotgun, the sight picture was dead level with the top of the lens of my frameless glasses. (Not that I ever hit much anyway).

I got fitted for a pair of large lens bifocals, not quite in the Dennis Taylor league of oversized glasses but a bit bigger than I would choose. I specified that the split between reading and distance should be as low as possible so that I could still read my phone etc but the distance part of the lens covers my field of view.
I can now focus my scope and any head movement no longer affects the focus of either the reticle or the target. However I still can't shoot for toffee with a shotgun so I can no longer blame the glasses.

 

[Len the dog]

View attachment 303313

One day contact lenses.

If I am using a scoped rifle, pop one in my left eye.
If I am using iron sights, pop one in my right eye.

Pop it in as I leave the house, tear it out as I get home.

I tried that as a solution but I found that contacts are not compatible with banana fingers.

 

[opticron1]

Wear varifocals all the time now which is a pain in the bum as when using bino's it means forever taking them off and putting them back on. Tend to keep them on when using a telescopic and find I just have to move my head up and down until the view is ideal - not always easy with quick shots! Do use a contact lens for distance work, but more comfortable with the varifocals when stalking.
Stalker 1962's idea seems eminently sensible, but as I only have one functioning eye - this wouldn't make any sense for me!

 

[mike308]

I gave up with varifocals for stalking, same problem. I now wear bifocals, but for stalking I now wear plain distance glasses and carry a pair of bifocals for using the phone if I need to. I bought some cheap glasses from Select Specs so if you lose them or break them you've not lost a lot of money.

 

[Marcher]

I've worn Varifocal glasses for years. I have always focused the cross hairs by turning the Occular lens, while looking at the sky, then focussed the target with the Paralax ( spelling?) adjustment . Works for me..

 

[Triffid]

I use varifocal contact lenses. They work really well for me when shooting.
I have tried using varifocal glasses when shooting and share the OP's pain . . .

 

[kenbro]

I use small varifocals but look over them to use a scope sight which is adjusted to compensate for my eyes.
Same with thermal, NV or laser range finder.
Ken.

 

[Cyres]

I wear varifocals and can shoot wearing them in daylight but at night it's not good. Normally wear a smaller lens type single vision and get on fine For close up stuff I just take my glasses off. However major issue is using an air rifle with open sights as now I cannot focus on front and rear sight. I get my single vision glasses from ASDA. Also I can't play tennis in varifocals.
D

 

[safer]

I have varifocal glasses but I shoot without the glasses. Just set up all my scopes to focus on the reticle using the ocular adjustment and focus on a target using parallax/focus. Simple.

 

[User00040]

I have a problem
I’ve been wearing vari-focal lenses for a few years now, but as the eyes get older, I guess the lenses get more biased towards the near sight image. Now when I shoulder a rifle it is impossible to get both the sight picture and reticle in focus.
I thought it was the scopes at first but after buying various different scopes with no better outcome I now realise it’s me/my glasses.
Had anyone who wears vari-focals overcome this ?
Is it merely that I need to alter my head position with an elevated cheek piece, so looking through the bottom of the lense (not easy when prone) or do I wear single vision lenses when shooting ? (not easy, generally)
Any help greatly appreciated.

Have you considered LASIK or similar treatments? Would be a permanent solution I think?

I know there is some trepidation about this, but it can be done through the NHS and a few people I know have had great results.

I have had 'corrective' eye surgery about 15 years ago as some scrote nearly gored my eye out with their fingernails.

 

[Len the dog]

Have you considered LASIK or similar treatments? Would be a permanent solution I think?

I know there is some trepidation about this, but it can be done through the NHS and a few people I know have had great results.

I have had 'corrective' eye surgery about 15 years ago as some scrote nearly gored my eye out with their fingernails.

If your eyesight degeneration is due to age then I’m pretty certain that laser surgery isn’t an option as it is due to the hardening of the lens and the muscles in the eye not being able to alter the focal length anymore.

 

[Mossypaw]

Thanks for the suggestions, I think it’s looking like a pair of single vision lenses will be the next option.

Unless… do scopes exist with an adjustable objective or side focus/parallax that also have occular adjustment that allows more fine tuning of the sight picture ?? ( never had an AO or side focus scope)

 

[User00040]

Unless… do scopes exist with an adjustable objective or side focus/parallax that also have occular adjustment that allows more fine tuning of the sight picture ?? ( never had an AO or side focus scope)

Yes

All of my rifle scopes are in this configuration now

 

[Mossypaw]

Yes

All of my rifle scopes are in this configuration now

Does this mean I may be “forced” to buy another scope.

Just for research purposes, obviously