old eyes and scopes

[mabr]

Anyone want to admit to there eyes going bad? Im not sure if its my eyes or just my scopes.

A little history - 2 years ago i noticed while sighting in my rifle that my scope seamed to be getting blurry. I Had a friend look through it and he agreed (but he was older than me). So I figured the scope was on its last leg but still usable and I did harvest a deer with it that year. Well last year never used the rifle as i was hunting in a slug zone. This year I have 3 areas to hunt 1 allows rifles, the other 2 are slug only. Before early antlerless season I check the rifle scope and it is really bad now , at least to me. It was to late to replace and resite so I go to the field with it anyways thinking I can make it work for the 2 day season. Well 1/2 hour before dark a doe steps out at 100 yards +/- and I can barely make her out in the scope. Shes coming my way so I wait,, she pops out at 40 yards and see's me getting ready and turns facing me head on. Shes only 40 yards and I try my best to line up cross hairs and deer but its really blurry, but I get it as close as I can tell and sqeeze the trigger. Needless to say I miss. I just know its the scope and swear im gonna replace it before firearms opener.

So yesterday I stop at GM to check them out. After looking through a few I start questioning is it the scope or is it my eyes. Some are clear, and some are like [PoorWordUsage]. I leave wondering if I would be wasting money on a scope when it could be my eyes vs the scope at all. So today, I look through all my guns with scopes on them and although they are all not crystal clear, all but the one in question are fairly clear.

Are there any out there that have gone through this with their eyes? I have always been able to spot deer at ranges where my friends could only be bewildered at how I seen them. I can still do it. I had my vision checked not even 4 months ago, exam says I just need the reading glasses Ive been wearing since the tearable forties hit.

Whats driving me nuts is I dont know if its the scope or my Eyes. How can I tell?

Oh to top it off I had the wife look through them as well(she wears glasses) and she claims (the one in question )was crystal clear to her!!!! Actually clearer than than the ones I thought were the clearest!!!!

Any ideas on how to detemine what the problem is without going to get an eye exam again?

[motley man]

If you wear glasses and look thru scope it can make it blurry. Try looking thru without glasses on. My brother has to not look thru glasses when looking thru scope.

[jeffreyd]

i thought i was having eye issues, went had my eyes checked and sure enough, glasses needed. so got them and could not see anything, went back only to find out my blood sugar had spiked at some point and changed my rx. so until i can get the sugar issue fixed will have to live with it. as far as scope, depends on the scope etc. higher quality scopes will allow you to look without having to take glasses off. i know my ex father in law always took his glasses off when looking. worked for him but the scope did not require him to do it. he was more concerned about it kicking back and breaking his glasses in his face. good luck, it might be time

[echotrail]

It's time to get an eye exam. Hopefully you have a basic medical plan that should cover the full cost of an eye exam every year. It's possible you could need glasses or even have a caterac(sp?)that would account for the cloudy vision. If you have one it's simple surgery to clear it up.

[Tom7227]

I think I would worry about the blood sugar and forget the rest of it. you can end up getting things pretty screwed up if that gets out of hand. Go to your MD and get that squared away. You probably will be able to see better and won't have to worry about passing out, much less worry about whether you can see a deer or not.

[TUMBLEWEED]

I will admit my eyes are not what they were twenty years ago.

Have made the jump to the 50 class this year..ouch !!

I have a variety of long guns and pistols having the full

range of model and brand of scopes on them. I noticed a

change of sharpness or clarity after being fitted with prescripton eyewear. (I am a little far-sighted and wear

a line-less bifocal)

As was pointed out, I see better hunting-wise WITHOUT

the spectacles. Not only through the scope, but rain and

snow don't hamper my vision. Glasses fog up and are worthless in wet and cold conditions. I am not going to be reading

in the stand, so I am perfectly comfortable leaving them

behind when afield.

All this being said, older hunting optics can lose the

clarity they once had. Anything from the lens coating

to the gas used inside the tube can breakdown and affect

performance in the sharpness of the image.

Looking at scopes in stores is not a very accurate way

of seeing actual field performance. The stores are generally

well-lit and it is usually hard to find a true field of

depth when you are looking at fixed objects in such an

enviornment. A good gunshop will sometimes be a big help

when looking at a new scope purchase. Bring them the gun

in question, to have them check out the scope's condition.

[mamohr686]

One thing that has not been mentioned so far, is that most high quality scopes have an adjustable eyepiece that you can change the focus to match your vision. I would look at a 3x9 variable power scope such as Leopold VarX-III or Nikon Monarch series of scopes that use a 1 piece tube. 1 piece scopes are more impact resistant and take the abuse of a slug gun much better without losing zero. Both scopes mentioned have flawless glass and awesome low light capabilities. When you sight your gun in at 100 yrds. Use the highest power on the scope and adjust the eyepiece until the crosshairs are crisp. I would also consider buying from scheels or another sporting goods store that has a good return policy. If you not happy with it, you could take it back, and they also will mount the scope free with a scope purchase. The only way your going to know if it's right for you is if you adjust it to your eyesight and have a chance to shoot it. A side by side comparison in the store isn't going to help too much. I should also mention you should think about some binos for scanning if your not hunting with your glasses.

[paul pachowicz]

MABR, I hear ya!!!! I've got cataracs that are ripe and ready for the laser. I've had em for the past 7-8 years and each year scoping is getting alittle more blurry. I've worn glasses now for the past 25 years but, have never used them while scoping. The reason is the upper left hand corner of my glasses usually get a little dirty, dusty or wet and that's right where my sighting is thru a scope. I use the rear optic adjustment to clear things up. However, after the holidays I'm gonna get the yellow out. In your case the blood sugar can affect eyesight. Better get on top of that!!!

[Ufatz]

Another old eyes guy here. Eye exam really not a bad idea but I would also suggest some research on a high quality scope, of low magnification, but with adjustable eye relief etc. If you go with a top quality scope you might see a lot better.

Jumping into a scope at the bottom of the price ladder and buying high magnification equals trouble.

Been right where you are but see like a hawk now. Say....is that a bark beetle crawling up that birch down by the lake?

[Surface Tension]

It depends on what your prescription is.

Old eyes are eyes that can't focus like they used to. Your prescription there is 1x or up. If you need reading glasses for just reading then take off your glasses because you won't need them out hunting. If you need the 1x or up to see and stronger for reading then I'd go buy a cheap set of glasses without the bi-focal. If you don't know what I'm talking about there you should. Its your eyes. Talk with your eye doctor about what your prescription is all about.

Sure you can take off your glasses and let the scope do the work or you can leave your glasses on too. You can't focus the scope for use with glasses then expect to use it with no glasses. It will need to be focused to one or the other.

Your owners manual will tell you how to focus the scope. Hold the scope to the sky. If the cross hairs are fuzzy then lower the scope and make a small adjustment. Don't adjust while looking into the scope.

[mabr]

OMG maamo made the light bulb go off. Not only are the eyes going but memory must be also. Guys I forgot all bout being able to adjust the focus. THAT WAS IT!!!!!! As soon as I read his post I jumped up and grabbed the rifle and right away that was it.man im releived this is a high dollar scope and I couldnt stand thinking I needed to replace it.

Thanks for the help, just saved me alot of money and ammo.

[mamohr686]

That's good news. I accept paypal, if you want to send me the difference. Just kidding and glad I could help.

[Ufatz]

Hey Mabr......a senior moment there huh? Ha ha ha ha. I had ASSUMED you had already made THAT adjustment. Happy it worked out and you can at least see better!

[delmuts]

Oh ! I can sooooooo! Relate!!!!

[mabr]

Mamo

It would be so worth it. Your towards Alex right? I'll by ya breakfast some time up there. we have a cabin on Oscar and thats the area were gonna be slug hunting on.

I just cant believe i didnt think of it. I guess I've never had to adjust any scope ive ever had, but I guess im gonna have to from now on. Not even 50 yet and have to worry about stuff like this.

Again thanks guys. I dont post on here often but its nice to know when we have a question we have resources to try and jog the memories.

[96trigger]

Its very easy to forget especially if you don't use scopes that often. Glad you figured it out.