I've been told I need Glasses - Does this affect my astronomy?

[Lowen22]

Good Day!

I went to the opticians today and it turns out I need glasses.

I don't need to wear them all the time, however I need to when concentrating e.g television and reading.

Do I need to do anything differently when stargazing or just carry on as I am?

Thanks

[SacRiker]

Good Day!

I went to the opticians today and it turns out I need glasses.

I don't need to wear them all the time, however I need to when concentrating e.g television and reading.

Do I need to do anything differently when stargazing or just carry on as I am?

Thanks

I wear glasses, but remove them when I stargaze.  I think you just need to adjust focus on scope/binoculars and you will be fine.

[michael.h.f.wilkinson]

It depends. If you have astigmatism (like me) keep the glasses on while observing (and use long-eye-relief EPs). Otherwise, just take off the glasses

[RichM63]

Sounds like you won't need them when star gazing. This is the only time I don't wear my glasses.

[Astro Imp]

I tend to remove mine at the eyepiece but need them to see the Sky Atlas which is a bit of a nuisance.

[Lowen22]

Ahhh ok, this is good to know. I wasn't sure how it would affect the eyepieces. 

[JG777]

I remove them to stargaze but have to put them back on to read the handset or tablet . It can be a real faff.

[ronin]

however I need to when concentrating e.g television and reading.

That is a bit of a strange combination.

Television normally means you are shortsighted (you cannot focus on objects a distance away, a TV), whereas for reading normally means you are long sighted (you cannot focus on objects that are close).

Did they supply you a prescription?

[RichM63]

I don't quite agree ronin, the size of the image or text on a TV relates to the size of the text in a hand held book at crooked arm length. Hence why the TV and book are clear with my reading glasses but the telecope performs the same task when observing so no glasses.

[thanders]

I find it better to keep them on. They are hard to find in the dark. I need mine for reading the hand control etc. No problem with EPs.

/T

[cotterless45]

I don't like them at the ep, I like to get up very close.

However this does lead to them going on/off/on/off between looking through the Telrad and charts or lists.

This has resolved itself in a couple of ways. Firstly by either sitting or standing on them.

Then I put an old (bent) pair in my observing jacket chest pocket. They're quite handy.

I'd certainly check if you have astigmatism. If anything detailed is involved I pop mine on, once located, hurrah !

Nick.

[Paul73]

I'm an on/offer. I have an old pair that are missing the right arm. Makes it a lot easier to whip them on and off quickly. They hang on the unused eyepiece rack on the scope.

Paul

[DougM43]

Interesting question this as I wear glasses for reading and asked myself the same question last time out with telescope, I found it much more difficult to focus my eye on an object in the eyepiece while wearing them.

[Macavity]

Didn't they give you a little card with the measurements?

They may not be quite as "dodgy" as this (my!) pair?

     SPH   CYL  AXIS  NEARR  -2.25 -1.75 150.0  +2.0L  -6.25 -0.50 180.0  +2.0 

Handy if you ever contemplate Dioptrx^TM correctors?

I usually manage by refocusing with my left (master) eye.

It's pretty short sighted, but the astigmatism is less than

my other eye! The astigmatism is directly along an axis.

- How could it be otherwise for any minor obsessive? 

[ronl]

I have Varifocal which are very good for watching television and reading,

obviously you don't need to keep swapping over two pairs of spectacles,

but they are no good for viewing through the eyepiece, I take mine off, and 

it is fine.

[Dave In Vermont]

Sounds like you have what most people have when they hit around age 40 - hardening of the lens in the eyes. I have it, too. Need glasses to read and TV is clearer. But they are totally unnecessary at the scope.

Check with your eye-doctor to be sure.

Now where did I leave my walker.....

Dave

[Lowen22]

I will fish out the slip and post the lens strength… This has all been very useful though.

[glowjet]

This is something that you will have to come to terms with, you will probably find glasses a bit of a nuisance as I did and I think you will find you will be able to manage just as well without them  

[Ian J]

I have two pairs of glasses one for reading or any close up work and interestingly one for just watching tv, the 2nd pair are purely just to take the strain off my eyes as I can end with a headache without them. I don't need either when using EPs so you should be fine.

[Charic]

Vari-focals for me, but only required when I use my Telrad ? the telescope or binoculars are fine without.

[RichM63]

What always gets me is that when choosing a new pair of frames the nice young lady gives me a pair with no lenses and asks me to look in the mirror to see what I think. A vaguely fuzzy head is about the best I can manage!

To the OP, if possible take a trusted significant other with you.

Don't want to hijack, but do any of you peeps have problems with 'vari-focals' and laptops, I can't use mine and have to get a fixed pair of readers for PC use.

[J0athan]

Hi, I need glasses for distance, and have an astigmatism correction. I found taking glasses on and off annoying: On to look up into the sky or through a red dot finger, or at my star chart; off to look through the eyepiece.

I fixed this by getting 1 day contacts, these can correct an astigmatism. e.g. https://www.acuvue.co.uk/1-day-acuvue-moist-astigmatism (other contact brands are available  )

I found this works great.

[LukeSkywatcher]

My new motto: Shouldn't Go To Specsavers.

[garryblueboy]

I to have to wear glasses and choose my eyepieces carefully with this in mind

[Geordie mc]

I'm very short sighted. I wear contact lenses for bino use, and prefer nothing for scope use. I just pop my glasses back on for charts, looking at my pc etc. I don't think you'll have any issues.