Using a riflescope and prescription eyeglasses

[Nando Aqui]

I use corrective lenses (prescription eyeglasses) to look at small details further away than six feet or so, and for driving, etc.; but I don’t need them at all for reading, or any other close-up work.

To shoot with some scopes, I have to wear my prescription eyeglasses to be able to see both the cross hairs and the target clearly. With other scopes, however, I have to take my eyeglasses off or I can’t see well. I have tried to adjust the ocular lens, but I can’t seem to be able to change the need, or the ‘no-need’ for the prescription glasses.

At the range where I normally shoot, they insist that I wear eye protection, which is not a problem when I use scopes with which I am OK wearing my prescription glasses. With the other scopes, though, it is a problem because I have to take my prescription glasses off, and use the safety glasses provided at the range, and I just can't see well at all with them.

In my younger years, when I used to hunt quite a bit and did not need corrective lenses, I used to just shoot without any eye protection.

A simple question:
Should there be a way to adjust the scopes that I normally use without prescription eyeglasses so that I can use them while wearing the glasses?

Thanks!

 

[Art Eatman]

Adjusting the eyepiece has always worked for me. If I had a scope which wouldn't adjust properly for my glasses, I'd trade it off. I wear tri-focals, so I always have my glasses on, particularly when hunting. My top priority is for out in the field, not the at benchrest, though.

You can always get shooting glasses which don't have any correction in the lenses--which is a lot cheaper way to go than "uniformization" of your scopes.

Art

 

[45crittergitter]

I think most U.S. scopes have a very slow, "fine thread" ocular focus adjustment. Perhaps you need to turn it a lot farther. If you are farsighted, turn the eyepiece counterclockwise to focus it to your eye. If nearsighted, turn it clockwise.

 

[Nando Aqui]

45C -
You may be right; perhaps I didn't turn them far enough. I'll give it another try.

Art -
Good suggestion. If I can't adjust the scopes, I'll get some plain glasses, that don't have distortion, and use them when necessary. (The 'goggles' I tried were just awful...)

Thanks guys!

Alex

 

[HankB]

When you focus the 'scope, first look at a distant object, and then, quickly, look through the scope. Your eye shouldn't have to refocus. If you keep staring through the 'scope, your eye will first focus on the target, then on the reticle, then the target, etc., and it will be difficult to adjust the eyepiece.

Remember, you look through the 'scope, not at the reticle.

 

[JohnBT]

The scopes I've tried won't adjust nearly enough to allow me to shoot without glasses or contacts. Some have a wider adjustment range than others, but close won't do me any good.

OTOH, my Nikon binocs get the job done.

John