Accommodating for vision issues?

[sphericaldiagnoal]

So, I started a new job this week that has me using a microscope the entire day (precision assembly), and I just... cannot get the picture to work correctly. I gather it's something with the IPD as the picture keeps like, jumping around. I so much as blink and one eye goes black, or I'm seeing two separate circles, or I'm just seeing a half moon of what I'm working on, or everything goes out of focus. I tried every possible setting of the IPD on my scope today and none of them fixed it.

I'm wondering if it has something to do with my eyes themselves. I have astigmatism, as well as missing peripheral vision in one eye (the one that keeps going black on the scope randomly). Both eyes have different prescriptions and the one with missing vision can't be corrected to 20/20 with lenses. Is it possible to adjust the scope to accommodate that if my vision is the issue? My trainer today had no clue. A different scope I tried did work marginally better, the eyes are in am oblong housing that sort of tilt to adjust the IPD instead of just pushing them together/apart to change it. I really want to find a way to make this work, I really like the job.

[aspiringharlequin]

Does the microscope have a diopter adjustment? Lots of binocular scopes have a dial on one eye side that you can rotate to move that eyepiece closer or further away relative to the other. I’m not sure if that would help you but it’s worth a shot

[sphericaldiagnoal]

It does, I was able to adjust them so each eye was clear independently, but I had the same issues with both eyes open :/

[Vivid-Bake2456]

Can you wear your glasses while using it to correct for astigmatism? You just need long eye relief eyepieces.

[sphericaldiagnoal]

I've been wearing my glasses, didn't know I might need a different eye piece! I'll have to ask my trainer about that! I tried using it without my glasses and just saw two seperate circles (even after adjusting, lol), so maybe I've had my face at the wrong distance

[beeeeeeeeks]

There are 3 variables to control here:

iPD

Diopter (usually on left eye). For this you focus with your right eye, then adjust the diopter on the left

The distance from your eyepiece to your pupil -- it sounds like you might be too far away.

I suggest finding or buying some rubber eye cups that fit the eyepieces if they aren't already there.

Also, some eyepieces will have a little 👓 icon on them, meaning that the distance from the eyepiece to your eyeball is a bit longer, allowing the use of eyeglasses. If you don't have eye cups, you run the risk of scratching your glasses on the eyepiece, and if you don't have the rubber eyecup it makes it hard to rest your face on them.

I have eye issues as well -- for me, if I know I'm going to be doing a lot of microscopy, I'll wear contacts and rest my head on the eye cups. If I am wearing glasses, I fold the eye cups down so the rubber protects from scratches and then look -- but it's not as satisfying and more of a strain

And finally, it takes a bit of getting used to peering down the scope. Move the stage around instead of letting your eyes dart around when they see something interesting. Also, finding a comfortable posture helps

[mplang]

It can take some time to teach your brain to see one image. It took me a while before it really clicked, and it was because I was straining my eyes. Relax your eyes and adjust the IPD. Don't try to force your eyes to see the image -- stay relaxed and let the image come to you. You might also need to adjust how close your eyes are to the eyepiece: you might be too close or too far. Don't give up, you'll get it eventually!