Eye exam - what to consider?

[buffalobo]

Have an eye exam this afternoon and have a couple ideas for specialized glasses for shooting.

Throw out suggestions and ideas to consider.

Pretty much anything related to pistol competition - USPSA/IDPA/Steel Challenge

Long guns with optics - planning to get a pair with bifocals on top rather than bottom. I really like my prescription sunglasses but have to contort to use the bifocals.

[MrPrena]

Obvious first: UV coating and UV protection.

2nd, get a stylish frame but strong-sporty that you can use it for all sports which is suitable for both needs. It doesn't have to be Kareem Abdul Jabbar, or Hornace Grant, Chris Sabo glasses, but stylish and sporty are many.
I cheaped out on my glasses, and frame broke. I epoxied my frame, and looks ugly. I now only use it for driving.

[Aloha_Shooter]

I've reached a point in life where I'm thinking about just having 2 or 3 pairs of glasses for different purposes and living with it. I've been using contacts for long time, mainly because it was cheaper and easier to use off-the-shelf sunglasses when I had contacts in but then I have to use reading glasses when I review documents. During the work-from-home period, I've actually found it easier to use regular glasses to walk around and drive and just flip them up or take them off when I want to read something. Haven't done any long gun shooting in a LONG time (way too long) but I'd consider just getting a special pair for that versus a different pair for handguns.

As MrPrena says, make sure you get the UV protection and coating. I would have different pairs for sunny versus shady/night times.

Another option is get all-purpose (but impact-resistant) lenses and use the stick-on lens modifiers for your bifocal effect. I've used those on off-the-shelf sunglasses for reading out in the sun and they work quite well.

[O2HeN2]

Are you near or far sighted? Astigmatism?

I'm far sighted with no astigmatism. I have prescription progressives for everyday use and I buy reading glasses by the 4 pack at Sams for shooting.

You want weaker than normal reading glasses - you should be able to clearly see your fingernail on an outstretched arm for pistol shooting.

O2

[ray1970]

Two words. Lasik.



Ok. Fine. That?s one word. Still the best money I?ve ever spent on anything in my entire life.

[FromMyColdDeadHand]

I have a pretty bad astigmatism, but little need for 'power', if that makes sense. I actually took a red dot sight in with me (no gun) and tried to use that to dial in the astig correction. Not sure how much it helped.

I hate coatings on glasses. They seem to do nothing but attract dust and cause scratches, and eventually flake off.

[O2HeN2]

I have a pretty bad astigmatism, but little need for 'power', if that makes sense. I actually took a red dot sight in with me (no gun) and tried to use that to dial in the astig correction.

Back in the day when I was shooting an open gun, I brought my open gun in. Cleared it, doctor (who was a shooter) checked it and we left the slide locked back and went at it with the lens doohickey.

O2

[buffalobo]

Age related farsightedness(presbyopia) with astigmatism.

Ended up going with standard progressives for daily, bifocal on top for my safety glasses and to try with optics.

Once I get both pairs back will test them and apply what I like about both to my sun/sport glasses.

Crazy with how much all this stuff costs.

[Gman]

Yeah, pretty pricey. I'm an IT guy, so my glasses have coatings that block blue wavelengths from displays. They also make the surfaces of the lens harder so they resist scratches.

I've always had outstanding vision, better than 20/15, until I hit 42. Then my arms got too short to focus on whatever I was reading. My regular glasses are progressives made with an 'office'/'interview' type of gradient. The top of the lens has very little magnification for further distances and they get stronger as you get lower in the lens. My distance vision is still uber. For pistol shooting the glasses work really well and I can see the sights and the target, no problem. I don't do much with rifle optics, so I'll have to see how that works. Do I correct to see the reticle and then have a problem at distance, or do I see well at distance and can't see the reticle....? I'll have to play with it and see what the adjustability of the optic does with my eyes vs. my eyes with glasses.

[SideShow Bob]

Age related farsightedness(presbyopia) with astigmatism.

Ended up going with standard progressives for daily, bifocal on top for my safety glasses and to try with optics.

Once I get both pairs back will test them and apply what I like about both to my sun/sport glasses.

Crazy with how much all this stuff costs.

Keep us informed as to how the reverse bifocals work with pistols & optics.

[bellavite1]

Top bifocals will get in the way when using scopes...
Ask me how I know...
Other than that, https://sportsoptical.com/ is my go-to place.
They are right of I-25 and 58th, by the Tanner.
Bret is the owner, a shooter and an overall great guy.
He typically keeps a blue gun at hand to measure the distance between your pupils and the front sight.
Tell him Luigi from Silverbullet sent you, he'll take care of you.