Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1999/01/16
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Pete Myers asked: I am considering the M6 0.85 for my work. However, I wear glasses. I have a mild astigmatism, but one that must be corrected for clear vision. With my glasses on, I am unable to get my eye close enough to the finder to see the entire frame. I can not wear contact lenses in the environments I shoot in (yes they make astigmatic contact lenses - and I work in very dusty conditions). I guess as the LUG's resident optometrist, I'll try to answer your question. It is relatively easy to order a spherical corrective lens for the M6 or R Leica bodies. Most are available in minus powers for myopia (nearsightedness) and plus powers for hyperopia (farsightedness). As you mentioned, the orientation for astigmatic corrective lenses will only provide clear vision with the camera in one orientation. So if an astigmatic corrective lens is somehow attached to the eyepiece for use with the camera horizontal, it will actuall blur your rangefinder image when the camera is used vertically. A better solution would be to wear disposable astigmatic (toric) soft lenses. They can be used for up to two weeks or intermittently and then thrown out. The two disposable astigmatic contact lenses that are now available are from Wesley Jesson and Bausch & Lomb. The only other solution would be to have laser refractive surgery. There are some risks involved with this procedure. No surgical procedure can provide a perfect result for everyone. Our practice has had a great deal of success with laser surgery but it is very surgeon dependent. Since I am not a surgeon, we use specialists who limit their practices just to laser work. I hope I was able to answer your question. Happy shooting, Richard Clompus, OD West Chester, PA, USA