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Up and Coming
February 27, 2014

Oculus Rift and prescription lenses

I have successfully installed my prescription (moderate astigmatism) into the Rift.

It is very simple to do. Order your distance prescription only, no bifocal or varilux, and get them cut to 43mm dia. Also it's helpful if you have the optometrist cut small notches around the perimeter to help locate the horizontal/vertical orientation. So a notch at 0, 90 and 180 degrees is best, to let you know where the top and sides are. You need the top because of your pupil distance (see below).

Place the lenses inside the A cup, they will come to rest against the small tabs located inside the cup.

After orienting them carefully to make sure the axes are correct, glue them in place. I used Amazing Goop. Just four dabs per lens. Keep the glue out of the line of sight, there is plenty of room though, so this is not difficult. I used vinyl electrical tape to temporarily hold the lenses in place while checking alignment and gluing.

Also make sure when the optometrist cuts the lenses that they take measurements off the Rift, so they can account for your pupil distance, since the IPD is not mechanically adjustable (the lens mounts are a fixed horizontal distance, you need to get your pupil distance correct taking the Rift's lens distance into account).

This process works amazingly well. I now can use my Rift without glasses and get the full immersion. And it is as clear as when I wear my glasses.

    22 replies

    billydAuthor
    Up and Coming
    February 27, 2014
    ps. Total cost was $108 for the lenses.
    Participant
    February 27, 2014
    Would be interesting to see some pictures of the modified lens cups.
    billydAuthor
    Up and Coming
    February 27, 2014
    "racoon1211" wrote:
    Would be interesting to see some pictures of the modified lens cups.



    I'll post them tonight! And keep in mind it's more of an addition than a modification. I am adding (directly underneath) a pair of lenses to the lenses that are already there. I am not removing the existing lenses. Just wanted to be clear on that.
    Up and Coming
    February 27, 2014
    hey billyd, what is your prescription? sphere and cylinder!
    "It's like Homeworld in first person." Disable Aero and vSync for a completely simulator sickness free experience with 2xHz FPS. Keep the config utility open for tracking to work.
    billydAuthor
    Up and Coming
    February 27, 2014
    "rupy" wrote:
    hey billyd, what is your prescription? sphere and cylinder!



    I have that written down at home and I am at work. Will post that info with the pictures tonight.
    Up and Coming
    February 27, 2014
    Mine are simpler (only spheric correction, works fine at short distances like the rift), smaller (37mm but they do not obscure any FOV) and alot cheaper. I use blu-tack to get them in place inside the C-cups.

    Did you get antireflection coating on yours?

    "It's like Homeworld in first person." Disable Aero and vSync for a completely simulator sickness free experience with 2xHz FPS. Keep the config utility open for tracking to work.
    billydAuthor
    Up and Coming
    February 28, 2014
    DSC00215.JPGNo coatings. Didn't think of it to tell the truth.

    My glue isn't pretty, especially magnified in the photo, but you can't see it under the goggles and it works. Also Goop glue will just peel right off, but it also very strong.

    My prescription is : +1.00 -2.75, +.25 -3.25
    Up and Coming
    February 28, 2014
    "billyd" wrote:
    No coatings. Didn't think of it to tell the truth.


    Me neither, but next time I will, the reflections are not that bad, but when you know about them you see them, specially when looking on the side of a bright light in a dark place.

    "billyd" wrote:
    My prescription is : +1.00 -2.75, +.25 -3.25


    Ok, that's interesting, you are farsighted but with nearsighted astigmatism, making your total sight nearsighted?
    "It's like Homeworld in first person." Disable Aero and vSync for a completely simulator sickness free experience with 2xHz FPS. Keep the config utility open for tracking to work.
    billydAuthor
    Up and Coming
    February 28, 2014
    "rupy" wrote:
    "billyd" wrote:
    No coatings. Didn't think of it to tell the truth.


    Me neither, but next time I will, the reflections are not that bad, but when you know about them you see them, specially when looking on the side of a bright light in a dark place.

    "billyd" wrote:
    My prescription is : +1.00 -2.75, +.25 -3.25


    Ok, that's interesting, you are farsighted but with nearsighted astigmatism, making your total sight nearsighted?



    Yes. I used to have 20/10 vision up until I was about 27 and then developed the astigmatism and the farsighted part is just part of aging. I am told it is highly unusual to develop astigmatism. Just lucky I guess.

    Btw it literally happened to me overnight. I woke up one morning and couldn't focus and that was that.
    Up and Coming
    February 28, 2014
    Wow, ok, what did you do the night before?
    "It's like Homeworld in first person." Disable Aero and vSync for a completely simulator sickness free experience with 2xHz FPS. Keep the config utility open for tracking to work.