It seems that not a day goes by that at least one thread does not mention the difficulty eyeglass wearers have using Leica M cameras. Usually, it has to do with being able to see a complete frame line. As a very nearsighted person who has worn glasses since age seven, I would like to relate my experience in the hope that it may encourage some of you to try something new. Just so you will know where I am coming from, my eyes are both –6.50 and both have astigmatism.

About fifteen years or so ago I decided that I was tired of wearing glasses with “coke bottle bottoms” for lenses and asked my eye doctor about wearing contacts. He prescribed rigid gas permeable lenses because they could correct my astigmatism. I looked better, but the contacts always seemed to burn my eyes, not to mention the hassle of taking them out each night for cleaning. Occasionally, they would even pop out of my eye.

Several years ago I heard about extended wear lenses. My eye doctor was adamant that I could not wear them because of my astigmatism. I had to actually insist that he let me try them. Fortunately, he relented and gave me a free trial pair. Well, I’ve been wearing Johnson & Johnson Acuvue extended wear contacts ever since. They are so comfortable that I cannot even tell that I am wearing them. No maintenance is required. Just take them out once a week and then throw them away after two weeks. Sleeping in them is no problem. You can even rub your eyes while wearing them. Please, do yourself a favor and ask your eye doctor for a free trial pair. I bet you will be glad you did. (And no, I have no interest in J&J).

-- Bob (robljones@home.com), May 10, 2001

Answers

You're a lucky guy, Bob. I too have worn glasses since the 5th grade, have astigmatism and am nearsighted (but only a -4.25). A few years back I went to a string of eye doctors trying to get fitted with contact lenses. Practically as soon as the doctor walked in the door my eyes winced shut. I was given all sorts of helpful hints how to un-train my blink reflex (touching my eyeball with a clean, wet finger was one). Nothing worked. The only way anything larger than an eyelash can get in my eye is under anesthesia. Even the air-puff glaucoma tester won't work on me, my eyes shut faster than anyone can trigger the machine. I've checked out Lasik but now that I'm of the age to need bifocals, it doesn't seem worthwhile (the only way they do that is to do one eye for distance and the other for closeup, they say the brain adjusts, but I say: what if I get something in the distance eye while I'm out driving?). It certainly isn't worthwhile just for using a camera. Leica could design a high-eyepoint finder, not just by lowering the magnification. The new 21-24-28 viewfinder, someone said will take the same correction lenses as the M6. Does that mean glasses-wearers won't be able to see the frames with this viewfinder also?

-- Jay (infinitydt@aol.com), May 10, 2001.

IMHO, the viewfinder is the only really serious place that Leica has fallen down on improving and updating the M cameras. I'm not holding my breath.

-- Bill Mitchell (bmitch@home.com), May 10, 2001.

I too, have considered eye surgery. However, the breakeven point for extended wear contacts VS. eye surgery is still too long. The risk of eye surgery must be considered too. Check out this website for more info: http://www.surgicaleyes.com/

-- Bob (robljones@home.com), May 10, 2001.