Bifocals and Iron Sights

[fprefect]

When I first began wearing bifocal eyeglasses about 15 years ago, the prescription was such that I was able to shot a rifle or handgun with iron sights while looking through the upper (distant) lens which gave me an excellent focus on the target, and only "blurred" the iron sights to a small degree.

With the prescriptions I now use, if I continue to look through the upper lens, the sights are now quite blurred with the target well focused.

I probably look silly but the only workaround I have found is to were the bifocals upsidedown and view through the lower bifocal reading lens which gives me a mediocre focus on both target and sights. I do most of shooting using a scope and can focus well at all distances without any glasses by adjusting the ocular, but would like to know how other "bifocal shooters are coping with this problem.

So, any other bifocal shooters out there, and what's the best "fix" for this problem. It looks like the best I'm going to be able to do is find a pair of non-presciption glasses that give me less than perfect focus at all distances, but it's a heck of a lot better than what I'm strugling with now.

F. Prefect

 

[donato]

I use progressive lenses and that works out pretty well, but it is still no where near like having 20/20 vision. Even with my progressive lenses, the target/rear sight clarity is a bit of a problem. Oh, for the days of old.

 

[skoro]

In just the past few years, I've found that my bifocals won't allow me to focus on both the target and sights. My solution is to use a low power scope. Problem solved.

 

[Buck Nekkid]

I've been wearing tri-focals for about 10 years and had a pair of glasses made up with the "middle" prescription only. It makes the sights quite clear, but the target is a bit fuzzy. Unfortunately this isn't a very good solution for targets beyond about 75 yards, at least for me.

 

[[email protected]]

I am a Bullseye shooter and 66 years old. I wear a 1.5 dioptler standard
reading glasses to see my front sight. This is in pistol shooting. Works very well.

 

[XTerminator]

Welcome to the "Age of Compromise"
I long for the days gone by when I could still focus both sights and the target at the same time. These days I settle for the front sight mostly in focus and the rear sight and target a little blurry. Rear peep sights help a lot.

Steve

 

[jfh]

I found progressive lenses, with the prescription set up by an opthomologist who is also a shooter, to give me good results.

For awhile. Now I am in the pre-cataract stage, so to speak--and nothing works. Depending on your age and insurance, is it time to consider lens replacement yet?

Jim H.

 

[Hutch]

For those who think they're focusing on the sights and the target at the same time.

You ain't.

If you are young and blessed with excellent vision, your focus can shift quickly enough to make it seem so, but optically speaking, you have 1 focal plane at a time. Front sight is where the focus should be.

I'm 'bout blind in one eye, and don't see out the other.

Added a comment: A scope, even a low-powered scope, puts the crosshair and target in the same focal plane. That really helps us olde phartz.

 

[gbran]

If your just handgunning with irons and no great distance, go to Wally World, Walgreens, etc. Get full lens reading glasses in 1.25-1.5x.

 

[Professor Thump]

It is tolerable with progressive lenses. If you are 45 years or older you probably need them anyhow. They take a little getting used to them but after a while you hardly think about it. You will have to hold your head a little higher to get good focus. At least I do in my old prescription.

 

[kda]

Welcome to the "Age of Compromise"
I long for the days gone by when I could still focus both sights and the target at the same time. These days I settle for the front sight mostly in focus and the rear sight and target a little blurry.

Steve

+1 on this. I use a pair of glasses (Walmart or Walgreens) that allows me to focus on and read text at arms length. Then, when pistol shooting at "normal distances" of 5 - 10 yards, I focus primarily on the front sight (sharp focus). That works for me because I guess I've shot enough that my front sight / rear sight alignment is just about automatic now (muscle memory) and so all I need to do is worry about keeping the sharply focused front sight on the part of the target I wish to hit and the rear sight seems to take care of itself. And, as mentioned above as well as in the advanced training books, the target is not in sharp focus.

In a defense situation, I positively confirm my target, then shift my focus to the front sight and take just enough time to get the front sight on the central mass of the target. For subsequent shots, keep your grip, wrist and arm position unchanged and just swing that front sight (on which you stay focused) back onto the central mass of the target as quickly as you can and squeeze again. Repeat rapidly for five rounds. Don't try to micro manage, just get that sharply focused front sight back to the same area of central mass and squeeze that trigger again. Between shots, do NOT let our focus shift to the target to "see how you are doing". Just keep putting that front sight back on the target and squeezing the trigger. Only when you are done shooting should you devote your eye focus and attention to the target to see how you did.

To tell the truth, I was astounded at how well I was suddenly shooting when I first tried this. I had a hard time believing my results ... that I had finally learned the secret to good tight 2" groups of 5 rounds fired quickly. The more I concentrated on that front sight and getting back on target quickly to fire, the better the groups became. It all felt very counter-intuitive ... and I expected my target to look a mess. Quite the opposite. The three groups on the far left side of the target were my last three groups of the day ... which is the time of day I usually shoot my worst groups because I am tired. Go figure. This works.

I've read all the books about "shooting the front sight" and "following through between shots", which just means quit stopping between shots to see how you are doing; it makes you since you must raise your head or drop your gun to do so. But until recently, as I began to work on rapid fire, all that advice never quite came together for me. I think rapid fire forced me to keep my attention on the front sight. There is no time for looking around, shifting focus, looking at the target to see how I am doing and generally micro-managing / over managing my shots.










You owe it to yourself to try this if you are not already shooting this way. Hey, you'll only be out a few rounds if you are not ready for this yet, but if you have been shooting for a few months, you are probably much more ready than you suspect.

Nowadays, the only time I shoot poorly is when I fall back on my old habit of trying to bounce my visual focus between the sights, then the target and back and forth, etc. ... takes too much time and I tend to "micro adjust" which just makes for less accurate shots.

This may not work for match target shooters ... I don't know. But I'm training for self defense and fun target shooting and learning to shoot the front sight and following through has changed my shooting completely. Finally I feel really good about shooting at the public range.

 

[tjj]

Yup. I feel your pain.

I use progressive lenses too and they work ok I guess. I don't wear glasses when using a scope on the bench. I adjust the ocular to use the scope in the field but I don't see all that well. Also, I have the auto darkening lens which cuts down on available light so that's a handicap too.

I couldn't afford good shooting guns when I was young and could see well. Now I have nice guns and don't have the vision to shoot well. Should have stayed with fishing I guess.

 

[DirtyHarry31]

I'm almost 52 & have problems with this as well. I am near sighted ( clear very close, blurry beyond that) and am going to get that laser surgery to give me what I need to retire to New Mexico. I just want to be able to wake up in the morning & not fumble for glasses & to wear cheap sunglasses for the sun. I want to be able to see the beauty that God blessed us with and be able to shoot distance. If I need to read I not that vain to put on a set of magnifying glasses when I need them. This beats the hell out of wearing contacts or glasses all the time like I have in my time.

 

[LegalAlien]

I am 60 and in a similar dilemma - contacts, not glasses though.

I have mono-vision contacts with close-up reading and computer work in my left eye and distance vision for my right eye. Your eyes/brain actually adjusts to this pretty quickly.

However, being right-handed and shooting right-handed, the front sight post on both my handgun and EBR are out of focus. Rear sight is fine - no problem at all.

With my handgun, I have adjusted by tilting my head slightly to the right and actually sighting with my left eye. It brings the front sight nicely into focus. This technique does not work with a rifle, so now I am kinda stuck. I have practiced switching the rifle to my left hand and front sight is then nicely in focus, but I have not actually tried shooting this way.

I prefer contacts over glasses and would not want to carry an extra pair of glasses around just for rifle shooting - so now what to do?
1. - Consider getting a 'sticky' lens for my shooting glasses that will bring the focal plane up close on my right eye only - not sure if this exists even
2. - Get bi-focal contacts and go through a whole new eye/brain focus adjustment
3. - Get Lasik surgery that semi-permanently resets your eyesight. I am not sold a permanent mono-vision lasik surgery.

AAARRGGGHHHHH . . the dilemmas of getting 'mature'

 

[fprefect]

Thanks to all for your time and sharing of suggestions. I see it's time for a litte experimentation. Got both an air rifle and pistol and if there ain't no fountain of youth, the only alternation is a lot of practice. Thanks again for your time cheating techniques of which I'm sure I'll find something that will be of some help.

F. Prefect

 

[DBR]

Sorry if this is a bit off topic but I think it is relevant to the reason we all examine the problems shooting with impaired vision.

In a real honest to goodness "bump in the night" life threatening situation most likely your attention will be glued to the thing that is trying to kill you - not your front sight. I use XS Big Dot sights on my home defense Glocks and my rifle sighted shotgun. If I am focused on the threat I want to be able to see my front sight at the bottom of my tunnel vision with or without my glasses.

Most legal self defense shooting occurs at 10yds or less and after the target is identified precise (bullseye quality) aiming is not usually required or possible.

 

[DBR]

My other home defense tool is a 1000 lumen flashlight (15X brighter than a Surefire 6P). The beam is painful to look into and will eliminate night vision for a couple of minutes - think looking into a photo flash.

I would much rather compromise a goblin's night vision and get them out of my house than have to shoot them unless they present an immediate threat of deadly force.

 

[Mark whiz]

I recently read where someone found stick-on magnifying film that can be put on the top of your glasses to similate the bi-focal function there, rather than trying to look thru the bottom of your glasses for seeing your sights.

another option are the jeweler's optic piece than can be stuck on your glasses. Check that out here, http://www.meritcorporation.com/products.html

Also, for rifle shooting their are some good ideas and goodies here:
http://www.bjonessights.com/
I use the hood lense with my M1A to bring in the front sight nice and crisp.

 

[sniper5]

On my target pistol I have a red-dot mounted. When I shoot irons on a pistol and am not worried about form I just tip my head back until the front sight comes into focus. When I AM worried about form I put a merit disc on my glasses then everything is sharp. For rifles, peep or merit disc.

 

[ar10]

Trifocals for 20yrs and no special glasses except shatter proof clip-ons, my solution is practice, practice, and more practice. I actually do much better with both eyes open.

 

[Ed Harris]

Both Eyes Open

Both eyes open is key. Most people who don't have astigmatism can use a shooting glass which is -0.5 to -0.75 diopter less than your reading prescription. This shifts the focal length out about 36-40 inches to where the front sight is. What works best for you will depend on how long your arms are and whether you are shooting a handgun or a rifle.

You can experiment with cheap drug store readers to see which strength works, then have a friend measure the distance from your cheekbone below the shooting eye to the front sight, and take this info to your eye doctor and you can get shooting glasses which work. Using a Merit adjustable iris to sharpen the sight picture also works well for bullseye shooting.

Last December I had surgery to repair a detached retina in my shooting eye. I have learned a great deal in my recovery. I got new shooting glasses in April which provided an intermediate focus distance for my dominant right eye. This enabled me to see the front sight on my .45 hardball gun or M1 rifle. My left eye has normal distance vision, but requires +2.0 correction for reading and close shop work.

Until recently when a cataract in the right eye complicated things I could shoot a handgun with both eyes open, letting my brain merge the clear target image from the left eye with the clear sight image of the right eye. Shooting open sights from a standing postion was no problem, but position shooting or use of target sights which don't enable both eyes seeing the target are a problem.

By June a cataract was starting to develop in the right eye. I knew I was at risk for developing a cataract as a complication of laser retinal surgery because even though the laser is focussed at the back of the eye to tack the retina back in place, the concentrated energy through the lens causes a localized opacity in the same manner as inserting a hot wire in an eggwhite. The surgeon explained this going, and we knkew this could develop in from 6 months to a year or two. The risk of cataracts was by far the lesser of two evils because I had to have the retinal tear repaired or face the certainty of blindness in my right eye. The decision was a no-brainer.

On June 6th I shot an Infantry Trophy match and had trouble with maintaining sight picture at 600 and 500 yards. While I could see the number boards without the rifle in line, when looking through the battlesights I could not read the numbers and had real trouble discerning the silhouettes. So counted target frames to avoid cross-firing, and just framed the target, concentrated on delivering volume fire and while my groups were sort of large, I got all shots on the frame, didn't crossfire, and got bonus points on my targets anyway. Not too shabby for a 60-year-old fart to get off 20+ rounds per minute with an M1. On the indoor pistol range my carry revolver and I can hold our own out to ten yards maintaining target focus, using Applegate method, DA point-shooting without sights.

On September 21 - just a few weeks ago - I had cataract surgery on my dominant right eye. I had an interoccular lens implant put in which is a best effort to provide the same intermediate focus I had post retinal surgery in April before the cataract started growing. I can read the Wall Street Journal full daylight or a good reading light at 20 inches without glasses. I do need a slight correction about 0.50 to 0.75 for close work examining cutting edges on tools, etc. The computer screen is sharp at arm's length without glasses. So are the sights on my snubby carry run and my .45. I do need some distance correction beyond about 8-10 ft., but then my left eye takes over and the brain sorts it out. Right eye reads the eye chart 20-20 uncorrected.

Doc gave the OK to go to the range this week. It's going to be nice to see the sights again.