Shooting with corrective lenses

[buffalobo]

Been kicking this around in PW thread, expanded to GD for those outside the environs of Post Whoredom.

At recent check up with eye doc I gave up stalling/ignoring issue of aging eyes(presbyopia) and ordered a pair of readers/gen purpose and pair of safety glasses for shop work. Spent some time with doc discussing shooting with glasses and options for different scenarios.

I will be spending early spring figuring out limitations and solutions for issues that arise to try and be ready for a couple minions to start shooting competitions this summer and hopefully expanding my own competition schedule.

Neither contacts nor surgery are options for me at this time.

Post up your experiences.



If you're unarmed, you are a victim

[Blowby]

I'm ready to have my eyes checked again since they are always changing as we age and I use progressive lenses (Zeiss). Years ago I had some stylish frames that used smaller lenses (height wise) and noticed the area of focus was small, elevation wise. Since then I went with taller lenses and my up and down head movement diminished and getting behind my scope improved greatly. The options available for 3D scanning and vision alignment has improved over the years. You will pay the price but it's worth it. A link to the place I went with links to some videos. http://www.broomfieldoptometrist.com...ce/technology/

This time around I will not have the automatic tinting added to the lens coatings. I found this to be a problem when shooting where the sun in front of you. The lenses darken and the reticle and target image through the scope is compromised. JMHO

[JohnnyEgo]

My experience is that I have worn glasses since I was 8 years old, which included military service and 3 gun, and still includes bowling pin and the occasional USPSA match. So I have only ever known shooting with prescription glasses. You'll be just fine. The logistics don't change that much since most competition shooting requires you to wear safety glasses, as does common sense. You'll adapt quick enough.

You can talk to your optometrist and ask them to calibrate the focal point of the prescription for the distance to your front sight blade of your handgun, which might give you a slight edge over general purpose glasses. But the real tip I can give you is don't buy your glasses from the shop attached to your optometrist's office. Like Diamonds, the margins on prescription glasses far exceed the actual production costs. Just give your prescription to China, where they can match the data with your finger prints and social security number, and in exchange you get $20 glasses instead of $400 glasses. I use Zenni Optical. Get a couple new pair every year after my eye exams. Nice to have spares in the truck and briefcase, and to not be worried if they get scratched or crushed.

[hatidua]

I have one "good" eye, one lousy eye, and astigmatism. I've spent a LOT on Rx eyewear in the last year but seeing clearly is priceless, so I paid it.

There's a myriad of individual experiences out there but in my case, I've gotten exactly what I've paid for: the cheap ones are not only inexpensive, they are also cheap. The best ones I have were expensive, no other way of putting it.

Think of it as rifle optics: you can put a Walmart scope on your rifle or you can bolt an S&B on it. Both will magnify your target.

[BushMasterBoy]

I always wear sunglasses when outside. With the high elevation we don't get full atmospheric protection of the coastal dwellers. UV blockers are a must.

[hatidua]

This time around I will not have the automatic tinting added to the lens coatings. I found this to be a problem when shooting where the sun in front of you. The lenses darken and the reticle and target image through the scope is compromised. JMHO

I had those once. Never again. They never got dark enough when I wanted them dark and never got light enough in low light. Great in theory, terrible in practice.

[JohnnyEgo]

I have one "good" eye, one lousy eye, and astigmatism. I've spent a LOT on Rx eyewear in the last year but seeing clearly is priceless, so I paid it.

There's a myriad of individual experiences out there but in my case, I've gotten exactly what I've paid for: the cheap ones are not only inexpensive, they are also cheap. The best ones I have were expensive, no other way of putting it.

Think of it as rifle optics: you can put a Walmart scope on your rifle or you can bolt an S&B on it. Both will magnify your target.

With respect, I don't know that your metaphor tracks. Is the guy running the Vortex Strike Eagle that much under-served compared to the guy with the Short Dot? Even though one is made in China and costs, give or take, 1/10th as much as a PM II, on a day-to-day basis, it accomplishes most of the same things as it's more expensive brother. The metaphor breaks down even more when one considers the Luxotica monopoly and it's attendant effect on eye glass pricing in the US. To a certain price point, the amount you spend on materials makes a real difference. Beyond that, you are paying for branding and hype.

I'd spend my money on a quality optometrist, make sure I knew my script, PID, and the specs I wanted in a pair of glasses, and then put those things together to get the best set of glasses for me at the intersection of price and feature. And, with the exception of my ridiculously expensive Wiley X sunglasses (I have 20/400 uncorrected; if my glasses were any thicker, I could see the future), that is what I have done.

Also, I love my PM-II.

[hatidua]

With respect, I don't know that your metaphor tracks. Is the guy running the Vortex Strike Eagle that much under-served compared to the guy with the Short Dot? Even though one is made in China and costs, give or take, 1/10th as much as a PM II, on a day-to-day basis, it accomplishes most of the same things as it's more expensive brother. The metaphor breaks down even more when one considers the Luxotica monopoly and it's attendant effect on eye glass pricing in the US. To a certain price point, the amount you spend on materials makes a real difference. Beyond that, you are paying for branding and hype.

I'd spend my money on a quality optometrist, make sure I knew my script, PID, and the specs I wanted in a pair of glasses, and then put those things together to get the best set of glasses for me at the intersection of price and feature. And, with the exception of my ridiculously expensive Wiley X sunglasses (I have 20/400 uncorrected; if my glasses were any thicker, I could see the future), that is what I have done.

Also, I love my PM-II.

The OP asked for individual experiences. I gave mine, see up there where it says "There's a myriad of individual experiences out there but in my case..."? -I should kick myself for logging in and replying, I thought I knew better by now.

Tell me, what do you recommend for progressive/glass/PL lenses? (all three ingredients and no HOYA please, their progressive glass PL formula is decades out of date and I have no interest in polycarbonate. Yes, there is highly impact resistant glass - not a lot of companies do it but I'm all ears as to your suggestion.)

[CoGirl303]

far-sighted in my left (20/40 uncorrected)

near-sighted in my right (20/400 uncorrected)

astigmatisms on both eyes, no depth perception (discovered that during my FAA Flight physical for the Army at Ft. Leonardwood, MO).

I am right hand dominant, but left eye dominant.

I wear one contact in my right eye, it isnt needed on my left. I can shoot ambidextrously (as long as I have my contact lens in)though so that helps.

I shoot a little better using my left eye than I do my right. Figuring out which eye is more dominant will help you shoot better (assuming you haven't done so yet) once you get your eyeglasses situation figured out and you can also google how to do a dominant eye test.

As for the glasses, I have no experience with prescription glasses as I can't wear them because they give me horrible migraines.




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[O2HeN2]

I had better than 20/20 vision in both eyes up until I was about 40. Now I'm farsighted in both. Waaaay farsighted. Even distance needs correction now. No astigmatism thankfully.

From 40 on, day to day, I just used simple readers for many years until I found my self switching glasses constantly (distance correction, close correction). It came to a head in a class I took where I was flipping back and forth between a screen at the front of the classroom to the laptop in front of me. After that class I got progressives, about at age 50.

So my experience, iron sights and handgun shooting only: With progressives, in a pinch I can roll my head back to get the correct correction to focus on the front sight. But when I'm practicing, I have weak reading classes I wear. Rather than correcting for the 18" or so reading distance, they correct at about 28" - front sight distance. When I bring the target back, however, it's a little fuzzy.

Just go to any Walmart, Sams or drugstore and try on a few reading glasses. But instead of trying to read the text they usually have for testing, hold your arm straight out in front of you and point your finger away, tipped up just enough to be able to see your fingernail. You should select glasses that bring your fingernail into sharp focus.

This of course will only work if you are farsighted with no astigmatism.

O2