Cheater glasses IPD trick

[JasonVR]

So, I have the same issue that I see other people posting about. After setting the IPD to the setting that gives me the clearest picture, my eyes still feel strained, and feel like I’m looking kind of cross eyed in order to focus.

I started thinking and reading and determined it has to do with the software IPD, and the fact that my eyes are further apart than what the pimax was designed for.

My actual distance IPD is around 62mm using the method explained here:

How to Measure Your IPD

BUT if I set the P4K to 62mm it was a very blurry out of focus image, i had to set the IPD to 55-57.

I figured this discrepancy of actual to what I had to use to “get by” with the Pimax was what was causing the fatigue, because the lenses are closer together than my eyes.

So here is what I did:

I went to CVS and bought some cheap reading glasses. I picked the prescription that gave me the best focus about 1’ away, I just tried on different ones and stared at my finger like a weirdo.

+1.25, 3 pairs for $20, METAL frame (this is important)

I then bent the frame so the lenses angle OUTWARDS.

I put on the glasses and then the headset and went to the IPD settings.

low and behold at 62mm not only is the center perfectly in focus but MORE of the entire scene is completely in focus, with only a little blurriness starting towards the edges, my eyes also felt much more natural and relaxed, instead of having to try and see clearly, I just did.

Also an important tip, when setting the IPD, CLOSE YOUR EYES FOR SEVERAL SECONDS between adjustments. If you keep looking at the green cross hair while you change the setting your brain will keep trying to maintain focus and it will “trick” you into thinking you found the perfect setting because its clear, but its only clear because your brain is compensating and trying to maintain focus, this is another reason you can have a clear image and still get eye strain, its not “naturally” clear, you are having to force it.

Anyway, this worked for me, and its cheap and easy to do, worth a shot if you have the same problem I did.

Cheers.

[Sjef]

I love this ! Haven’t tried it myself yet. But the idea is while your eyes are relaxed and straight, the line of vision through these glasses is inwards, right ? Like it needs to be if you have bigger IPD than the pimax hardware has. However without these glasses your eyes would actually have to look inwards themselves.

But what about the 1.25 … why use this ? Do you have ‘normal’ ‘perfect’ eyes ? And you do have to use ‘readers glasses’ right ?

EDIT ah you tested several and tried which one gave you the best image at 1" distance from your eyes and you came out at 1.25, right ? I wonder though if this is the right way because the image you’re staring at is not 1" away because you’re staring at the ‘virtual’ image, not the ‘real’ image… You’d have to know how far the virtual image is away … Man I wish I remembered all this stuff from high school science lessons

[Enopho]

i am actually going to try this… might help me with out of focus on the edges, i know my eyes are not perfect but i dont need to wear glasses (yet)

[JasonVR]

I wear contacts to see clearly at a distance, I left them in when selecting the glasses so I woulden’t have to take them out every time I used the headset.

there was no reason in particular I chose 1’ (one FOOT not one inch) as my focus distance, I just wanted a point of reference for finding out which glasses would be clearest.

“But the idea is while your eyes are relaxed and straight, the line of vision through these glasses is inwards, right ?”

That was the idea, angle the lenses so they face inwards to the pimax lenses, so you can look straight and the glasses slightly refract the view inwards to align it to the pimax lenses.

I had no idea it would work, hell I don’t even know if that’s exactly WHY this worked, but it did (for me)

[JasonVR]

UPDATE:

Since this worked so well I decided to better integrate the additional lenses into the headset.

I cut the nose pieces out, and cut off the ends of the ear piece arms

Cut small holes just below the foam cushion, bend the arms outward some and slide them through the holes.

Put some tape on the end of the rather pointy earpiece arm.

This way the exposed ends allow you to adjust the glasses within the headset without actually having to move the headset it self, makes adjustment and fine tuning much easier. the glasses stay put but can be moved around enough so that you can clean the glasses or the lenses without having to take everything apart.

Im glad this worked, my next attempt was going to involve trying to swap the pimax screen and lenses into a GearVR so as to have the forward and backward adjustment, Im glad I didnt have to go down that road.

[JasonVR]

My vision is good with my contacts, this is IN ADDITION to that, this is more about the ANGLE of the view than correcting vision. In my case it made a HUGE difference in how much of the picture is clear, I only have some blurring on the edges.

For example on the IPD screen, the green cross, as well as the words above and below it are all clear and sharp, before this the cross itself was clear but the wording around it was a bit blurry.

[trent]

Ingenious hack, @JasonVR , thank you for posting this information.

I do not have to wear glasses but the IPD information you gave will help to get the IPD right, as I always though it was ok but would still get sye strain after 20mins or so.