Focusing and Presbyopia

[nlk10010]

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Jeff:  I understand what you're saying but I guess my question is:  Unless you've got an optometrist (or optician or ophtho) who's a Leica user exactly how do you explain what you need? How do you test? Do you end up bringing the camera and walking around trying to focus with various "trial" diopters?

 

As I say, my working hypothesis is that, given the RF patch is at 2 meters, I need to get a prescription (for distance and astigmatism) for just that distance. I figure testing with my computer specs is a good approximation.

[Jeff S]

I merely told my doc about the 2m requirement initially. Almost any optician has free trial diopters... just walk in and ask. Yes, and I’ve brought my camera. No need to see a doc, just the sales person. Testing is free... I taped the diopter to the VF and determined strength needed. Of course if one is close to a Leica store, trying diopters is easier.

 

Jeff

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[Jeff S]

As I mentioned, I use my distance glasses (including for astigmatism) AND a diopter now. I also have Museum/computer glasses, but they’re set to 1m or less, so my distance glasses are preferable. I’m fortunate that my correction needs also allow for good viewing at 2m.

 

Jeff

[nlk10010]

Ahhh, I see, thanks.

 

The Leica store in NYC is downtown in an area I don't frequent, so it may just be easier for me to go to the optician close to my house (and from whom I just bought a load of eyeglasses). We'll see.

[Jeff S]

BTW, my comment about seeing a doc (or at least an optician) first was not about you in particular, as clearly you’ve been seeing one... for astigmatism diagnosis, glasses, etc. Some here jump to buying diopters or magnifiers and have no idea if they even have astigmatism, let alone understanding the camera requirements.

 

Jeff

[david.kize]

Nik said:

 

 

I also have astigmatism, even after my cataract surgery, and I think there is a difference between people who have undergone that surgery and those who haven't. If you haven't had cataract surgery (but still need to wear eyeglasses) my guess is that, as Thorsten von Overgaard suggests, using distance eyeglasses may be best; however, if you have, and your eyes can't automatically adjust to various distances, it's more difficult and perhaps a prescription set for about 2 meters, give or take, will give you the best chance. Diopter-only corrections may help but astigmatism will still be present and make life difficult.

 

I had not thought of this--about cataract surgery diminishing the ability of the eyes to adjust to focus at various distances.  I am supposed to have cataract surgery this summer, and I had just assumed that it would make Leica focussing easier.  Right now, I can focus okay with my progressive lens eyeglasses, and really well with my distance contact lenses.  Nik's comment suggests that after cataract surgery (if both eyes are set to distance--which is my plan), it might be even harder to focus at 2 meters without eyeglasses set to that distance.

[nlk10010]

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BTW, my comment about seeing a doc (or at least an optician) first was not about you in particular, as clearly you’ve been seeing one... for astigmatism diagnosis, glasses, etc. Some here jump to buying diopters or magnifiers and have no idea if they even have astigmatism, let alone understanding the camera requirements.

 

Jeff

 

NP, although frankly that angle never even occurred to me.

[nlk10010]

-snip-

 

I had not thought of this--about cataract surgery diminishing the ability of the eyes to adjust to focus at various distances.  I am supposed to have cataract surgery this summer, and I had just assumed that it would make Leica focussing easier.  Right now, I can focus okay with my progressive lens eyeglasses, and really well with my distance contact lenses.  Nik's comment suggests that after cataract surgery (if both eyes are set to distance--which is my plan), it might be even harder to focus at 2 meters without eyeglasses set to that distance.

 

David:  Just my inference from my conversations with my ophtho:  I could easily have misunderstood, but that was indeed my impression. I'm sure there are more knowledgeable folks on these boards (perhaps even with a medical background, definitely not me as I can't STAND the sight of blood) who can chime in, but of course each case is different.

[Jeff S]

Regarding cataract surgery, this old thread includes comments from more than one eye specialist....

 

https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/147048-m-finder-after-cataract-surgery/

 

Jeff

[nlk10010]

Regarding cataract surgery, this old thread includes comments from more than one eye specialist....

 

https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/147048-m-finder-after-cataract-surgery/

 

Jeff

 

Thanks, I think I may have come across that thread at some point in my journey (my memory is going along with my eyes). Some of the posts are vaguely familiar.

 

Frankly, I can't make too much logic out of what was said, there does not seem to be one generally accepted answer to using the M RF after cataract surgery. Some who have had their eyes set to distance can use eyeglasses, some not and the issue is complicated with astigmatism. 

 

I actually went out last weekend to a local festival and used NO eyeglasses, focusing with my bare left eye (which is the better one, with minimal astigmatism), and managed to get decent focus with my full range 28/50/90mm of lenses, and that may have to do. It seems that, with me, there is no ideal solution. Without glasses, RF focusing using my bare eye is fine for distant objects but not for anything from about 4 feet in, for those I need my computer glasses. 

 

Perhaps bifocals, computer/reading for close subjects (and to be able to see the camera controls) coupled with no glasses for distant subjects is the best I can do. It does not look like a single diopter adjustment (even with astigmatism correction) will suffice. I just have to decide if I can live with that.

Edited May 12, 2018 by nlk10010

[wpm]

I had not thought of this--about cataract surgery diminishing the ability of the eyes to adjust to focus at various distances.  I am supposed to have cataract surgery this summer, and I had just assumed that it would make Leica focussing easier.  Right now, I can focus okay with my progressive lens eyeglasses, and really well with my distance contact lenses.  Nik's comment suggests that after cataract surgery (if both eyes are set to distance--which is my plan), it might be even harder to focus at 2 meters without eyeglasses set to that distance.

 

David, congratulations on biting the bullet on the M10. I had cataract surgery and lasik about 4 years ago. Definitely helped though a funny result happened. I am/was right eye dominant. They undercorrected the right eye and a year later when the left eye was done, they overcorrected a little, which turned me into a left eyed shooter. No problem focusing any of my rangefinders. I sometimes use a +1 diopter when I want to shoot right eyed but find I'm just as comfortable going left eyed, right brained. I have floaters which sometimes get in the way and are annoying but overall, I love not having to deal with glasses, except for reading, and I'm a happy camper. Out of curiosity, where did you get your camera? Houston Camera Exchange by any chance. Charlie Nelson is a great help there and has talked me out of way too much money. They are also about the only game in town now that Precision in Austin has severed their relationship with Leica. Best of luck with the camera and the surgery. Amazing what they can do.

Warren

[wpm]

 

David, congratulations on biting the bullet on the M10. I had cataract surgery and lasik about 4 years ago. Definitely helped though a funny result happened. I am/was right eye dominant. They undercorrected the right eye and a year later when the left eye was done, they overcorrected a little, which turned me into a left eyed shooter. No problem focusing any of my rangefinders. I sometimes use a +1 diopter when I want to shoot right eyed but find I'm just as comfortable going left eyed, right brained. I have floaters which sometimes get in the way and are annoying but overall, I love not having to deal with glasses, except for reading, and I'm a happy camper. Out of curiosity, where did you get your camera? Houston Camera Exchange by any chance? Charlie Nelson is a great help there and has talked me out of way too much money. They are also about the only game in town now that Precision in Austin has severed their relationship with Leica. Best of luck with the camera and the surgery. Amazing what they can do.

Warren

[jdlaing]

Nik said:

 

 

 

I also have astigmatism, even after my cataract surgery, and I think there is a difference between people who have undergone that surgery and those who haven't. If you haven't had cataract surgery (but still need to wear eyeglasses) my guess is that, as Thorsten von Overgaard suggests, using distance eyeglasses may be best; however, if you have, and your eyes can't automatically adjust to various distances, it's more difficult and perhaps a prescription set for about 2 meters, give or take, will give you the best chance. Diopter-only corrections may help but astigmatism will still be present and make life difficult.

 

I had not thought of this--about cataract surgery diminishing the ability of the eyes to adjust to focus at various distances.  I am supposed to have cataract surgery this summer, and I had just assumed that it would make Leica focussing easier.  Right now, I can focus okay with my progressive lens eyeglasses, and really well with my distance contact lenses.  Nik's comment suggests that after cataract surgery (if both eyes are set to distance--which is my plan), it might be even harder to focus at 2 meters without eyeglasses set to that distance.

Cataract surgery will fix you right up. You’ll be surprised how much better it is to see and focus.

[Luke_Miller]

I had not thought of this--about cataract surgery diminishing the ability of the eyes to adjust to focus at various distances.  I am supposed to have cataract surgery this summer, and I had just assumed that it would make Leica focussing easier.  Right now, I can focus okay with my progressive lens eyeglasses, and really well with my distance contact lenses.  Nik's comment suggests that after cataract surgery (if both eyes are set to distance--which is my plan), it might be even harder to focus at 2 meters without eyeglasses set to that distance.

That was not my experience.

 

My prescription for reading glasses to correct for presbyopia was unchanged after the cataract surgery.  The TORIC lenses that were implanted corrected my astigmatism and now I have 20/20 vision in both eyes.  I use a corrective diopter (the same one as before the cataract surgery) on my M rather than glasses .  The removal of the cataracts improved both the brightness and contrast of my vision, which made a significant improvement in my ability to manually focus.