If you’re looking for the quickest way to fix double vision in your binoculars, you’re in the right place.
When you use binoculars, it can be a frustrating experience to have double vision. Seeing two images of the same object at the same time is not a desirable thing, and it makes the binoculars useless.
Even the best binoculars on the market can run into this annoying issue. Well, the good news is that there are ways to fix this.
In this article, we’ll show you how to fix double vision in binoculars, so you can enjoy a clear view.
How To Fix Double Vision In Binoculars
Simply put, double vision occurs when the two optical barrels of the binocular are out of alignment. That means they are not pointing to the same object in the distance. Usually, it happens when your binoculars fall on the ground, causing prisms and lenses in the binoculars to become misaligned.
The solution is to adjust the binoculars and align the optics in the two optical barrels. The process of aligning all components in a binocular to bring light to its best focus is called collimation. And that's what we are going to do now.
Steps to fix double vision in binoculars
The adjustment procedure is quite time-consuming, so we will walk you through it step-by-step. Here are the steps you need to follow to fix double vision in binoculars:
- The first step is to gather the tools you need for the procedure. You will need screwdrivers, tape, a scale, cardboard, a black marker and a penknife.
- Once you have all the right tools, locate the adjustment screws of your binoculars (left horizontal, right horizontal and left vertical, right vertical).
- Next, determine which lens needs adjustment. To do that:
- Take out the cardboard, scale, and marker, and draw a plus sign (+), both lines should be 12 inches.
- Now, mark all the inches from 1 to 12 on the line you just drew.
- Once done, hang that cardboard with a tree, a stand or a wall at a distance of 100 meters (or less).
- Look at your target (cardboard) through your binocs and try your best to focus on the plus sign. See if small lines on the cardboard are both at exactly the same distances.
- Now, turn each adjustment screw slightly to see how it affects the image.
- Turn 1 of the screws 1/8 of a turn to the right and see what happens, then turn it back. Repeat this for each screw to determine the adjustments you have to make. Start with horizontal screws.
- Tighten a horizontal screw until the images are halfway closer.
- Next, turn the other horizontal screw to bring the images together.
- If the images aren’t centred yet, then adjust the vertical screws. Turn 1 slightly and see if it brings the images closer. Then adjust the other vertical screw until the images are centred.
- Finally, test it out. Look at our target and check the distance of small lines from the centre of the cardboard. Well, you will know, when you see it.
If you find the fix too complicated, you can approach a repair shop to have the adjustments done for you.
Why Do I See Double When Looking Through Binoculars?
You may see double or ghostly images when you look through binoculars. This is because your binoculars are out of collimation. What is collimation? you may ask. Collimation is, simply put, the physical alignment of your binocular's optics.
If your telescope is not properly collimated, it will not be able to focus properly on objects. You can collimate your binoculars by adjusting the four adjustment screws of your binoculars. You can follow the instructions in the previous section to collimate your binoculars.
Read More: How To Clean Your Binoculars
How To Fix Foggy Binoculars
The condensation in binoculars is a common problem and it is caused by moisture in the air. The safest and best way to fix foggy binoculars is by using a couple of small silica gel sachets and placing them in a sealed bag altogether with the binoculars.
The silica gel will absorb humidity and will prevent fogging. This is an easy and inexpensive way to fix foggy binoculars. Silica gel is a very common product that you can find in most camping stores and in some hardware stores. There is also a chance that you can't see clearly through your binoculars because of the smudges or dirt on the lenses.