Eyepiece Setup
Seeing Double? Set the Scope to Your Eyes.
A quick reference for double images or eye strain at the microscope.
Seeing two images, or getting tired eyes and a headache after a few minutes at the microscope, usually means the eyepieces are not set for the person using them. Everyone's eyes are different, so this takes about 20 seconds per person, every time someone new sits down.
Do this
- Set the eyepiece spacing. Slide the eyepiece tubes in or out until the two circles become one.
- Focus with your right eye. Close your left eye. Focus with the fine focus knob.
- Adjust the diopter. Close your right eye. Turn the diopter ring (usually on the left eyepiece), not the focus knob.
- Relax your eyes. Look in as if at something far away. No squinting.
- Note your settings. Write down your spacing number and diopter setting for next time.
Avoid this
- Using the diopter to focus. Focus with the focus knob first. The diopter only matches your other eye.
- Keeping one eye closed. Working with one eye causes strain. Set both so you can keep them open.
- Pulling the eyepieces partly out. Eyepieces should sit fully in their tubes.
- Still double after setup. The prisms in the head may be out of alignment. That is a service call.
The habit, every time
STEP 1
Eyepiece spacing
STEP 2
Right eye: fine focus
STEP 3
Left eye: diopter
STEP 4
Relax your eyes
Watch it in a minute
Still double after setting it up for your eyes? The prisms in the head may be out of alignment. That is a service call.
Need hands-on help? See our microscope repair and maintenance service in Houston.
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