As if it wasn’t hard enough to separate the Western Sandpiper from the Semipalmated Sandpipers on the mudflat in front of me, I had to continually block the piercing morning sun penetrating the space between my eye and my binocular eyecup. If I shaded my eye with my right hand and held the binocular with my left, I couldn’t use the focus. No matter how I adjusted the bill of my ball cap, it didn’t get the job done. Eyeshields to the rescue!Binocular eyeshields have a short rubber “wing” that extends from the binocular eyecup past the outside of your eye, blocking the sun and wind. For me, the improvement in viewing experience was like going from a regular movie to IMAX. The eyeshields have a supple rubber ring that stretches over the eyecup of your binocular and will fit most models. Regular and compact binocular versions are available.

The eyeshields can be easily adjusted or removed. The wing can also be folded back. It may take a little while to get used to the wing extending back an inch or so from your lens, but the improvement in viewing will be well worth it. If you wear eyeglasses while using a binocular, eyeshields may not be of much benefit due to their fit over the glasses frame.

Article by Peter Stangel

Field Optics Research offers several sizes of eyeshields, with combo packs for both standard and compact sizes, and a lifetime guarantee. Check out http://www.fieldopticsresearch.com/shop/EyeShield-Winged-Eye-Cups.htm

SportsOptics offers a model of eyeshields, which can be referenced at https://www.sportoptics.com/eyeshield-standard-size-winged-eyecup-b001.aspx