Binoculars and Glasses

[Mark W]

Since I had to start wearing glasses full time, using binoculars sucks in general. I was just reading that there are binoculars available with enough eye relief to allow use with glasses. It appears that most of them are expensive. Does anyone have recommendations on mid grade binos that work with glasses without breaking the bank?

 

[Dub]

Most binoculars have barrels that drew out one turn for eyeglass wearers. Yours don't?

 

[Alex Wheeler]

You will want lower powered binos like 8x42s or even better 8x50. Its the same as a scope bigger eye box. None will make you 100% happy. But if theres any place you want to break the bank its binos

 

[Mark W]

Most binoculars have barrels that drew out one turn for eyeglass wearers. Yours don't?

Yes, every pair I’ve seen has that feature, but like Alex said none have made me happy. I always end up pulling off my glasses to use the binoculars and the next thing my lenses are all smudged up. I simply don’t use my binoculars as much as I did before I had to wear glasses and was hoping there was something out there that would help.

 

[Mark W]

You will want lower powered binos like 8x42s or even better 8x50. Its the same as a scope bigger eye box. None will make you 100% happy. But if theres any place you want to break the bank its binos

Thanks! I try to look through some decent quality lower powered binos and see how that works for me.

 

[Ledd Slinger]

Since I had to start wearing glasses full time, using binoculars sucks in general. I was just reading that there are binoculars available with enough eye relief to allow use with glasses. It appears that most of them are expensive. Does anyone have recommendations on mid grade binos that work with glasses without breaking the bank?

If your eyes don’t need a lot of correction with prescription lenses then most binoculars will focus in just fine for you without wearing glasses after proper adjustment technique of the diopter. My father wears glasses almost full time but he doesn’t use them when glassing with binoculars. He doesn’t have a ton of correction tho.

The Leica Geovids use a dual diopter system. Steiner binoculars have done this for many decades as well. The dual diopter adjustment makes it even easier to really tune in each barrel for each of your eye’s required level of correction. Really nice because vision in both eyes will very rarely deteriorate at the same level. I don’t wear glasses full time but my right eye is definitely worse than my left. I do have glasses I wear occasionally to help out but don’t need them for every day life or reading. If I close my left eye on only use my right, everything is pretty blurry. However, I have no issues tuning in diopters on high end binoculars to compensate for the lack of vision in my right eye.

Of course if your eyes need a lot of correction then even a dual diopter setup may not have enough adjustment to help you. Most high end binoculars have really good eye relief of 18-20mm. Other cheaper binos will usually be lacking in the eye relief department and they will also have a much smaller field of view that will be much more apparent if wearing glasses. Of course the more eye relief the better if you absolutely must wear your glasses, but go into a store and try out some high end binos with dual diopters to see if it will work for you. As your eyes age I’ve found there is no substitution for top level binoculars for not only the very forgiving eye relief, but also the sheer amazing quality of glass and the stunning image they deliver. Good eye relief aside, top level alpha glass really makes a world of difference for people with less than perfect eyesight.

 

[CharlieNC]

For around 20yr I've owned a set of Leupold 10x50 with the adjustable eye caps that work great with glasses, think $250 back then. Worked fine for hunting.

 

[Alex Wheeler]

I have always enjoyed using good glass. Doesnt have to be for any real purpose. I took a hike today just to use mine.

 

[tac284]

I have always enjoyed using good glass. Doesnt have to be for any real purpose. I took a hike today just to use mine.

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Swaro’s?

 

[D-4297]

Looked at all the High-Dollars Bino's when this problem began to surface . None of them fit . Then I was at a gun show and saw a Bushnell vendor selling Demos for a reduced price , so I looked . Good choice for me . Found a pair of Bushnell 16 x 50 's that had adjustable eye pieces , and they were the ticket . I wear tri-focals , and don't have to remove glasses , except for looking at something at extreme range . Good Bino's and worth looking at . Price doesn't always match need .

 

[K9TXS]

I have been using a pair of Vortex Diamondback 8x42 for the last 2 years and very happy with them. I would buy them again. I believed they cost around $240 shipped. I wear glasses all the time and have a bad astigmatism. I have not had any issues with the Diamondbacks.

 

[freebird22/250]

I have an older pair of 8x42 Leupold Cascades that i like very much.

 

[RCE1]

I wear glasses and like my Steiner Marine 8x binoculars. I remove my glasses and the binoculars focus fine. I suppose it depends on your particular vision issues.

 

[jpx2rk]

I've got a set of Athlon Cronus/Midas 10x, and can use them with progressive tri-focals just fine. I do have to adjust them like crazy after the wife is done watching the birds tho.

 

[PracticalTactical]

If you are using them from a tripod, don't rule out just using a rifle scope as a spotting scope.

There's lots of advantages to such a configuration... Long eye relief for sure, plus you can use the reticle to measure distances in your unit of choice (MOA or Mils). It's had to find binos or a spotting scope with a reticle I like, but easy enough in a rifle scope. (especially since I use MOA)

I like to mount a rifle scope to a tripod using QD rings and a pic rail I bought off ebay, then I drilled a 1/4-20 hole in the rail to fit to the tripod.