My Eyes Aint What They Used To Be.

[JN01]

Now this is really only an option for range play since you're not going to walk around with a CCW handgun with a red dot switched on 24&7. Although there are some very small red dots out there that MAY be useable for concealed without being too lumpy. But there's still the issue with switching them on unless you can find one which has a remote grip switch that'll turn on as soon as you grab the gun in your usual manner. Like a pressure strip that runs down the back strap or similar.

You can have a CCW gun with a red dot. There are several smiths who will mill the slide on an auto for a quality sight like the Trijicon RMR or Leupold Delta Point. And yes, they can stay turned on 24/7, batteries are good for a couple years, change them out annually just to be safe. Such sights add virtually no weight and little bulk and are a great advantage to those with failing eyesight. As an added precaution, you can also have taller iron sights installed along with them in the unlikely event the optic fails.

 

[labhound]

I wear bi-focals and do the backward head tilt thing too. That's what I do when target shooting from 10 to 25 yards. At a self defense distance, 7 yards and less I practice point shooting, staying mainly focused on the target and not so much the sights. In a real self defense situation you may not have time to focus on the sights. I do have a laser/light combo on my HD gun that I practice with so at night I can illuminate the room with the light and light up the target with the laser not having to worry so much about the sights.

 

[Jonah71]

This works for me. I'm 59, blind in my (once dominate) right eye, have glacoma in my left eye, and I wear bifocals. But this doesn't keep me from carrying my G 23. Now I will admit to needing several hundred practice rounds to get to this point. I do best when focusing more on the front sight. Still working on reaquiring target after first 2 rounds. Took awhile getting use to that Glock trigger and learning to keep that 2nd quick shot on target.

 

[mes228]

Good points listed by others. The Red Dot is the solution you seek. The Trijicon RMR is made to be left on 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 356 days a year. And the batteries last 4 years. Weighs about 1/2 oz. and will withstand 50,000 "G's" of recoil. Accuracy and speed increase many times over. The only down side is the RMR cost ie approx. $700 for the RMR rm07 with the 7 minute angle red dot (which some recommend).

FN makes two Models of .45 pistols that the slide is machined to accept the RMR series of red dots. I have the FN Tactical Model and the RMR, I cannot say enough good about the combo. I own several pistols and have owned a truck load , including custom and semi-custom. Nothing, absolutely nothing, comes even remotely close to the FN/Trijicon combo for any use. With the exception of concealed carry as it is a large pistol like the H&K Tactical. I can carry mine concealed as I had a custom Kydex holster made for it - but it does print. From shooting 16 rounds through the same hole at 15 yards or shooting a rabbit in the head at 25 yards. This combo will do it. And I mean that literally. In my opinion other companies must copy the system or be left in the dust. It's that good.

I also have a Glock 19 with the Lasermax Guide Rod installed (for my wife). I believe it's the only laser that's military approved (NATO). Very durable, simple and relatively accurate. At 25 yards it may be off 2-3 inches. At 10-15 yards my wife, who very seldom shoots, will shoot the bull out of a target. It is a good system. With that being said NOTHING COME CLOSE TO THE TRIJICON RMR.

 

[Manny]

I've worn glasses due to severe nearsightedness since I was eight. Now in my 50's and needing bifocals or progressive lenses I've conpensated by going to a longer slide with the Glock 34 & my favorite 17L and found that helps a lot in being able to see & focus on the front sight. My next step is trying a set of Advantage Tactical Sights, which got a very good review from Massad Ayoob and has a number of testiminies on it's site from folks with vision problems who were able to use them effectively.

http://www.advantagetactical.com/reviews.htm

I've found them for sale at MidwayUSA for Glock and they're also available for SIG's and other popular pistols. They're supposed to be very easy to install.

 

[Ankeny]

mes228:

I still plug away with fuzzy irons on my carry guns. However, I have been shooting open division (optical red dot heads up display) for many years in USPSA. As my vision erodes, I am getting closer and closer to going to an optic on a mid-size pistol for carry. As the baby boomers age and their eyes deteriorate, I think optics on their carry guns is the answer. I am just waiting to see what develops as technology improves.

 

[brickeyee]

The Red Dot is the solution you seek.

Only if you can see that far.

 

[hariph creek]

You could also try XS Big Dots. I've heard they could help.

 

[JN01]

Quote:
The Red Dot is the solution you seek.

Only if you can see that far.

If you can't see as far as the rear of the slide, I don't think there are any sights out there that are going to help you.

 

[Stealth01]

Tinker,
My eyes suck! I have glacoma, astigmatism and I'm near sighted... other than that... what the hey! When I shoot red dot sights, I wear my prescription eye glasses - with astigmatism I get a blurred dot without my prescription. But, when I shoot iron sights, I wear non-prescription Oakley shooting glasses! I can see the front sight very clearly (targets visible but blurry... and that's OK) and have found that I can shoot iron sights MUCH BETTER than wearing prescription glasses... give it a try. Example, that's a 10 shot group with a 3 inch barreled Kimber Raptor @ 7 yards (SD range):

 

[2zulu1]

I'm reaching the point to where even the front sight is blurred and I wear 37" sleeves. While sighting in a new 686P/4", I was still able to cloverleaf 4 shots and credit goes to Smith's red insert on the front sight.

A red dot holographic sight on the top rail of a M327 TRR8 is probably going to happen sometime in the near future. These types of sights have worked very well on ARs and my home defense shotgun.

 

[Doghandler]

I just hooked myself up with "multifocal rigid gas permeable" contact lenses. I've been wearing regular RGP lenses for years but presbyopia is taking it's tole.

Wow! I can read my watch without reading glasses and my gun sights are clear and crisp again. I feel like a young man!

 

[Rexster]

I am an LEO, and am seriously considering custom Oakleys with a lens at the top of the left side, that is perfectly set for the distance to my front sight, which is actually, depending upon the length of the weapon, not presently the same as the reading-distance prescription. (I am left-eye dominant.) That being said, I do recommend threat-focused shooting training.

Little things that can help include a wider notch in the rear sight, and a bit of contrasting color in the front sight. Then, there are red-dot sights. Once I recover from a minor financial slump, I want to try an Aimpoint Micro T-1 on a handgun. (I already have one on a Mini-14.) An Aimpoint might be a bit large for a concealed carry gun, but not too large for off-body weapons, and folks are carrying handguns with Trijicon RMR and such sights.

 

[wrench]

I'm in the same boat with all of you!
I had a special pair of glasses made with a bifocal cut into the top of my right lens, (I'm right eyed), at half my normal reading prescription. Now I can see the front sight sharp, and the target OK.
I still practice some with my normal glasses at self defense distances, but for target shooting or just prolonged shooting sessions, the special glasses really make it more enjoyable.
Now before you say, "Wow, that sounds expensive". Look at these...
http://www.amazon.com/OPTX-20-Stick-Bifocals-1-25/dp/B000W7EDAY

Buy a pair, stick one on the top of your lens in your dominant eye, and away you go.
Thank me later.

 

[tomaz45]

I found a simple fix was to purchase "stick-on magnifiers" that are sold to allow a person to put magnification in regular safety glasses. Most safety supply dealers sell them and they are cheap. I cut the "half moon" in two and attach that pie piece on the upper inside corner of my regular glasses on my dominate side. These attach via surface tension much the same as the oil change stickers that attach to your winshield. You can cut them to any size you need so it doesn't interfer with your normal straight ahead vision but you can shift to it quickly when you aim. Weaver stance, double hand grip, shoulders rolled forward, head level and "BINGO" clear crisp front sight focus. I would also suggest a contrasting color on my front sight. This will allow you to more quickly pick-up the front sight.