Scope problems, bad eyes, lasik? UPDATE

Furhunter

Furhunter

New member
My eyes have never been that good, I am also a contact lens sufferer LOL!! There is a problem I have with every scope I have looked thru. I cant use them much past 2/3rds of their max power setting, the eye relief gets tight, but they also get dark and darn hard to see thru. I dont have a safe full of cheap scopes either, Most are burris and an older signature series 6-24. A Nikon I may give to my dad. A Nightforce NXS 5.5x22 Even the NF I cant use past 16 power or so, but much better in respect to the others as it should be for the money. I have shot a ton of other brands with the same problems, it makes no difference. I would like to know if there are others out there with the same problem as I. Its sad to look at a 4x16 in the case at the store and think well its worthless past 10 to 12x /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused1.gif

Has anybody with this problem had Lasik done? how did it work. I am really considering this for later this spring. I can say I may have it done no matter what difference it makes, wearing contacts for years has been no treat.
 
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Lasik has really improved in recent years. They can correct lots of focusing problems. I doubt it could help with a light problem.
You need to consult a good optomolygist, preferably one who knows about scopes and shooting.

Jack
 
I was in your same boat. Im a helicopter pilot and flying with your head out the door all day is pure hell on contacts. I had lasik done last spring and it was the best thing I have done in my life. The only side effect I have is at night with bright lights there is a small halo. Do your homework and talk to at least three doctors. You will get that warm fuzzy feeling /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-006.gif with the right one. Eyesight isnt something to mess around with
 
I can't answer on your scope focusing problem but I can relate to having poor vision. My vision was extremely bad. Without contacts or glasses I wouldn't been able to read a stop sign if I was standing next to it, would have known what it was but not able to read it. I had lasik done last fall. One of the things that stood out for me was a soon as the surgery was done and they had lowered the flaps and were standing me up to move into another room was the clock on the wall. Even at this time where everything looked like you were looking through saran wrap I could read the clock. Left the place at 1:30 in the afternoon and returned the next morning for my checkup at 8:00. Was seeing 20/20 in both eyes! It is truly an amazing thing.
 
The problems you state are not uncommon with all scopes.

AS the power on a variable goes up, the eye relief gets critical - it just the laws of optics at work.

The same applies to the scope getting darker at higher powers.

If the exit pupil of the scope is equal or larger than the diameter of the pupil of your eye, the scope will have the same brightness as looking withOUT the scope... but at higher powers, the exit pupil of the scope gets smaller, and once it gets smaller than the pupil of your eye, the view in the scope will look darker than without the scope. This is especially noticeable as the evening approaches, and the pupils of your eyes get very large.

There is nothing you can do about it - it is NOT YOUR EYES.

I spent many years in optical research at Columbia University, and co-authored the first book on treating eye diseases with Lasers... I have the teeshirt (but it's old and raggity /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif ).

.
 
I'm not an ophthalmalogist, but I played one in medical school. I agree with the above. Lasik is getting very safe (not 100% though) and can work miracles on your vision. But what you have sounds like a scope problem, not an eye problem. Catshooter's explanation of exit pupils is the way I understand it too.

One question I have though, even though you can't see without them, does the scope still go dark at high power without your contacts in? If you've never tried it, do it in the morning or some time that you haven't had your contacts in for a couple of hours. I'm wondering if your contacts are irritating your eyes and interfering with the ability of your pupils to dilate properly. Give it a try, if your scopes are brighter without contacts, then maybe Lasik will help.

BTW if I needed vision correction, I wouldn't hesitate with Lasik. But like others have said, shop around and don't go to the discount surgeons that advertise on TV. Good surgeons don't need to advertise. Ask around.
 
I had Lazik done about 6 years ago. Best thing I have done for myself. You have different ways of having your eyes done to the specific ways you want to see. My Dr. did a eval on my eyes twice prior to doing the surgery. Mine were cut for both to see at a distance. I ended up with 20/15 vision. I now have extremely clear vision at distances. I would obviously recommend a reputable surgeon, not one of the strip mall places that have popped up in the past few years. As far as seeing through the scopes and different optics it has been great for me. I understand there are some even newer processes that have made it even better. Good luck with your decission.
 
Thanks for the info guys,
I tried it without the contacts, it seems to be alittle better not by much though. I doesnt go black, I can still see thru it but the eyerelief gets so touchy I loose the clarity or light if you will(for lack of the right term) I know the contacts are a part of the problem.

I have been thinking about going and getting glasses for now but my other problem is headaches with the bright sunlight. I guess I would need them in sunglasses too.
 
I've considered Laser surgery, but two of my friends have had it and had real problems, one was several years ago, and the technology is better now, but the other friend had it done last year, it was great at first, but now he's back to wearing glasses, but not near as much correction is needed. He's like me and hates contacts, I tried them for a couple years and gave up on em. I can still see fine and know how to deal with glasses since I've been wearing them for 50yrs, so until I go blind or nearly so, and I can still use my scopes and hunt effectively, I'll leave things as natural as I can and enjoy life. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif
 
If you do get lasik be sure to go to a repitable place and not the cheapest you can find. My dad, went to the cheepest place he could find thinking he was saving money, and he hates it and would of never done it if he could go back.
 
I had lasik done about 7ish years ago, I would do it again in a heartbeat, best money I have ever spent. The only problem I have is a bit of light sensitivity, always wear sunglasses now, because its more comfortable and the fact that now I can!.

As others have stated go and see more than one doctor, as well as your regular eye doctor and also talk to your insurance company they may cover part of it now.

Good luck

Dave
 
I don't know about the scope but I can sure add another thumbs up for Lasik. I got tired of glasses fogging up and getting water drops from the rain, went to contacts and my eyes watered the whole time the wind blew. 20/20 with no problems 5plus years now. I don'tknow how oldyou are but they told me to expect some decreases when reach 40-50's due to natural aging of eye. Reading glasses from Wally World would likely be the only thing I may or maynot need.
 
Next time you happen to be at a big sporting goods shop, trying looking through some different scopes, Leupold VXIII or better, Swarovski, Ziess. Don't pay attention to prices because your not necessarily gonna buy it, just take a peek through it at high power and see if that helps.
 
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Next time you happen to be at a big sporting goods shop, trying looking through some different scopes, Leupold VXIII or better, Swarovski, Ziess. Don't pay attention to prices because your not necessarily gonna buy it, just take a peek through it at high power and see if that helps.



I have and they are no better, BIL owns a ziess, friends have the luppys, there no better than the old sig burris I have. The ziess was ok but not on max power. I own a nightforce its the best for me at the upper end of magnifaction but like I said before, I cant use it much past 16 to 18X.
 
I am one of the few people that have Lasik induced "severe dry eye". Not the Doc's fault, just [beeep] luck. When I look through a scope at any length of time, it all goes blurry. Especially now when the humidity is low in S. Texas. Working on the computer all day doesn't help either.

Be aware of what can happen if you get Lasik. I wish I had my contscts back. :-(
 
Not certain IF Lasik will help your problem but you will be rid of contacts and have more freedom that way
I had Lasik done when it was relatively new and expensive
I had recomendations from friends and co-workers and ended up with a very fine prac.I would not change a thing no halo or any side affects normaly associated with the procedure
Good luck
 
Lasik is by far the best money I have ever spent. All positives and no negatives. However, not everyone has eyes that are suitable for the procedure. My vision has degraded slightly since I had it done about 7 years ago, but I'm still between 20/20 and 20/25. I'll turn 60 this fall and if they slip past 20/30 or so, I will probably have them tuned up again. If your eyes are suited to it, I'd go for it. Good Luck!!!
 
I think with the posts here that we can see (sorry), that alot of us have some vision problems. As a guy hitting 60, and having worn glasses since being a small child i too, have considered lasik.

I wonder if catshooter and doccoyote would like to explain to those of us who don't know, what can be gained, and what to watch out for in choosing lasik. blue
 
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I have and they are no better, BIL owns a ziess, friends have the luppys, there no better than the old sig burris I have.



I'd go see the doc then. I wear glasses all the time and I have a Nikon Monarch, and while it's good, it's not as good as the Leupold VXIII. I've also had the pleasure of looking through an $800 Swarovski, and it was like big screen TV compared to the VXIII. Now when I look through some of my cheaper scopes, it drives me crazy. My dad's in bifocals now and while he struggles with a $75 pair of binoculars, he finds it much easier with my $250 pair with extended eye relief.

My problem is iron sights, but it's been about 4 years since I had an eye exam, so I'm way overdue.
 


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