Look after your optics

Binoculars and telescopes look more sturdy than they are. Their insides can be easily broken if dropped. But looking after them is common sense and can help them to last a lifetime. 

• Keep them dry. A rainguard over the eyepieces will allow you to birdwatch in light rain. 
• Keep the lenses clean. Blow any dust or sand away and then wipe them gently with a soft cloth. Be doubly careful on the beach because sand can badly scratch lenses. 
• Above all, don’t bang them about. The insides are more easily damaged than the outsides. 
• If you start seeing double, get them fixed or they could damage your eyesight or give you headaches. 
• Ask someone else to look through them occasionally. They will easily spot problems that you may have got used to.       

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