Should I try contacts for my observing sessions?

[pipnina]

My glasses are the second bane of my observing sessions, (sat next to LP) None of the eyepieces I look through have eye relief long enough and especially with my 10x50s it's annoying to only be able to see 3 degrees out of the 8 degree field it offers. They also make filters less usable since I'm pushed even further back from the EP. So I was wondering if any other members of the forum had thought about or tried contact lenses and what their experiences with them were.

Going to consult my optician at my next eyetest.

    ~pip

[PeejaySTB]

Hi Pip, being a glasses wearer I feel your pain, I think it may be worth enquiring about special contact lenses, I know they make specific glasses because I once enquired, but as I was told that they would be quite expensive I didn't pursue it. I know with my own glasses that long eye-relief eye-pieces make a huge difference.

Pete

[almcl]

Not a contact user, but always discard my glasses for observing - the focus is radically different for each eye, but it is possible.

On the filter thing, appreciate your kit may not permit this, but I always put my filters on the scope end of the eyepiece so don't get pushed further out, is that possible with yours?

[pipnina]

Hi Pip, being a glasses wearer I feel your pain, I think it may be worth enquiring about special contact lenses, I know they make specific glasses because I once enquired, but as I was told that they would be quite expensive I didn't pursue it. I know with my own glasses that long eye-relief eye-pieces make a huge difference.

Pete

I had heard people mention types of glasses that are made to a more exact fit for my eyes and that they are expensive... but the difference they make might not be worth it, but you can only know if you try it and spend the £££.

Not a contact user, but always discard my glasses for observing - the focus is radically different for each eye, but it is possible.

On the filter thing, appreciate your kit may not permit this, but I always put my filters on the scope end of the eyepiece so don't get pushed further out, is that possible with yours?

Not sure if I can, my EPs slide into the focusser. What would it look like if I could?

[Moonshane]

I always wear contacts 24/7. I have had the current ones in for over a month

They are great and yeah you sometimes suffer with a tear wave at some angles but I'd never go back to specs.

[pipnina]

I always wear contacts 24/7. I have had the current ones in for over a month

They are great and yeah you sometimes suffer with a tear wave at some angles but I'd never go back to specs.

I thought having them in 24/7 wasn't meant to be good for you? Maybe it depends on the type...

[Moonshane]

It does. Mine are designed to be worn constantly for a month. I even sleep in them.

[Moonshane]

Never had any problems. My eyes are fine

[bejay1957]

I take of my glasses to use binocs, only trouble is I can't see what I'm aiming them at

[mcolbert]

when I'm working at home - I'll wear glasses but, for photography or astronomy I'll put on the contacts.  It just makes it so much easier, no bumping into eyepieces etc.

It is worthwhile talking to your optometrist about contacts as they have improved over the years, not only month long wearing, sleeping with them in etc but also now they come as 'bifocals'.

Do be aware though that different people react in various ways to contacts, something to do with the body chemistry I've been told, but that is only for very rare cases.

michael

[Scooot]

Hi Pip, you probably know this but just checking, do you have an astigmatism? If not you can view without your glasses and just use the focusser.

[pipnina]

Hi Pip, you probably know this but just checking, do you have an astigmatism? If not you can view without your glasses and just use the focusser.

Unfortunately, I do have astigmatism.

[almcl]

Not sure if I can, my EPs slide into the focusser. What would it look like if I could?

Appreciate we may be talking about different systems here but like this:

[pipnina]

Appreciate we may be talking about different systems here but like this:

EP and filter sep.jpg

EP with filter fitted.jpg

You sir, have Just potentially saved me breaking my filter.

Thank you!

[bingevader]

If you speak to your optician, he/she would probably recommend you try some for a bit.

I asked and explained what I wanted them for and they were very helpful.

Unfortunately, I couldn't get on with them.

I ended up getting my eyes in a real mess before each observing session and it kind of defeated the purpose!

They were single use, throw away things that didn't cost much at all, worth a go.

[Alkaid]

I have severe astigmatism in both eyes, so like you I have to wear glasses for Astro. I use Celestron Xcel eyepieces and they are great, I get the full FOV when wearing my glasses.

But...I also wear contacts for sport and socialising, and if they happen to be in my eyes at the time, I also wear them for Astro. They are great, very sharp. Contact lenses for Astigmatism are weighted at the bottom. There is a tiny white line at the bottom so that you can see the correct orientation when inserting. This all means that the lens stays plumb and does not rotate, which is important for astigmatism.

If you get contacts, then you must persist with them. Initially, the hard part is insertion and removal. No-one likes touching their eye and it is quite unnatural. But persist....it will soon become second nature. It might take a month to get completely used to them.

Oh yeah, they're also brilliant in the rain!

Typed on a phone, excuse any poor grammar.