Thermal Optics and Eye/ Vision Impairment/ Damage

[Sabre]

I have used Flir thermal extensively and have never experienced what you described. I would think it would have to have something to do with the IR light on it. Or there is something really faulty with it.

The LED screen of most thermals is no different than looking at a small TV screen. It is likely to cause some eye fatigue with extended viewing and some "night blindness" if the screen brightness is set high and then you look away into the dark.

I am sorry you are going through this and am interested in hearing what your eye doctor says. I hope that you have a full recovery.

 

[Philip Glass]

I am sorry to hear this. I'd dump this one and get a different one.

 

[HankBuck]

Curious:

Has anyone else had this eye problem using a DNT or any other thermal night vision optics?

I purchased a DNT TNC335R thermal day/night scope for my trip to RSA for hunting various night animals. On the second night of my Limpopo night hunt instead of using the app on my phone I frequently used the scope for 3 or 4 minutes at a time to search for intended night animals.

After an hour or so of randomly looking through my scope I started developing a pain in my veiwing eye. The next morning the white of my eye was totally red, with a sort of tingling-numbing- pressure- swollen- pain, with a modest amount of vision impairment.

After a discussion with my PH about my eye problem that morning; he too developed these same eye problems after that night's hunt using his thermal night vision monocular.

Not sure as to how soon my PH's eye recovered. It's 6 weeks later, I'm still feeling some of the negative affects to my eye.

At my third outfitter in prep for our night hunt I told my PH about what had happened at the previous outfitter while using the thermal optics. On the third night during of our bushpig night hunting from a blind, he too used the DNT TNC335R thermal scope. Although less frequently and for lesser viewing durations, he inevitably developed the same eye problems from using the thermal scope.

@Ridge Runner - What did your Eye Doctor say? Don’t post again until you can answer that question —- your vision is too important to wait and you won’t get the answer needed from another post on AH. Ocular pressure (glaucoma) and other issues can be treated but once any loss of vision occurs it may Not be able to come back….make an appointment asap or go to a Hospital Emergency room and get checked out.

 

[Ridge Runner]

@Ridge Runner - What did your Eye Doctor say? Don’t post again until you can answer that question —- your vision is too important to wait and you won’t get the answer needed from another post on AH. Ocular pressure (glaucoma) and other issues can be treated but once any loss of vision occurs it may Not be able to come back….make an appointment asap or go to a Hospital Emergency room and get checked out.

As for the ER; V.A. ER doesn’t offer dental or eye care unless in severe pain or it is a life threatening injury. ER recommended that I see my primary care doctor to make an optometry appointment.

Since I was already at the hospital for an orthopedic appointment I went directly to eye care, they were busier than usual, so I had to make an appointment.....3 weeks.

 

[Ridge Runner]

Maybe then the brightness down on the screen you’re looking through. I did that.

I had adjusted the brightness and contrast to lower settings the first night after I received the scope while learning how to use all of the different functions.

For those that use or are familiar with thermal scopes mine is set on black hot. For those not familiar with thermal scopes black hot is sort of like looking at a photograph negative using a lamp light bulb.

 

[Hogpatrol]

Discussed this some more with my eye doc today. He said it is age related. The older one is, the longer to recover from looking at screens for an extended period of time.

 

[HankBuck]

As for the ER; V.A. ER doesn’t offer dental or eye care unless in severe pain or it is a life threatening injury. ER recommended that I see my primary care doctor to make an optometry appointment.

Since I was already at the hospital for an orthopedic appointment I went directly to eye care, they were busier than usual, so I had to make an appointment.....3 weeks.

@Ridge Runner - I’ve had a couple of issues with my eyes the past 10 years and that’s why I react very seriously too anything that affects vision: ocular pressure, double vision, blurred vision etc…. You’re right about Virginia ERs Not attending to Eye issue (a stick poked a small hole thru my Eye while walking in woods in the dark) called several Eye Doctors before one took me as an “emergency” same day. I now wear clear safety glasses when walking in woods at night, extra careful with anything that involves my Eyes. SO many things are very treatable in early stages but result in permanent loss of vision if left unattended.
I also use Thermal optics (very frequently the past year) and never had any of the adverse affects you described. I would want to see an Ophthalmologist and have full eye exams (Not just a vision test) and I would also want an explanation “why did I have these symptoms?” I need to hear more then “probably just eye strain etc..”
Seeing a Primary care Doctor is likely a waste of time unless you need their referral to get into an Ophthalmologist. No one wants to lose even partial vision and especially a Hunter/Shooter, take good care and hope all gets cleared up quickly.

 

[Ridge Runner]

@HankBuck I didn't know that Virginia ER's doesn't offer vision care . I'm just across the Virginia line in Tennessee.

The V.A. I was referring to is the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, aka V.A., V.A. Hospital, V.A.M.C..