I'm 56. I avoided it longer than I should have. I'm now seeing, or should I say noticing, that my eyesight is hurting my shooting ability. I get regular exams for diabetes, and things are pretty stable. But every eyeglass guy I talk to doesn't know a thing about setting me up with something that will help me shoot. I like open sights, and things are getting tougher and tougher. I also shoot handguns a lot. Where do I start in trying to find someone who knows what they are doing with shooting glasses?
Eyeglasses: where do I start?
- Thread starter whalerman
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Nushif
Member
I guess I'm not getting your question.
You're wanting to know what kind of glasses to get?
You're wanting to know what kind of glasses to get?
I'm hard to understand sometimes. I need glasses, and want to get a pair that will help me shoot better. It seems like we can buy lenses that help close up or far away, but not both. We need that front sight and we need downrange. No optomitrist I've spoken with has any experience with these needs. What should I be looking for? Is it a lost cause to look for someone with some experience in these matters?
jcwit
member
Don't know what to tell you. I'm 66, have worn glasses since I was 5 yrs old, I'm nearsighted, diabetic, get my eyes tested every year, legally blind without glasses, and have no trouble with open sights, peep sights, or scopes for that matter. Try another eye Dr. or keep calling around.
You posted while I was typing. Short answer you'll never be able to focus on all three at the same time, just as you cant focus a camera on all three at the same time. Different distances, different focal lengths. This is why we have perscription bi-focal and tri-focal.
You posted while I was typing. Short answer you'll never be able to focus on all three at the same time, just as you cant focus a camera on all three at the same time. Different distances, different focal lengths. This is why we have perscription bi-focal and tri-focal.
Jim Watson
Member
I shoot pistols with glasses ground to focus my right eye on the front sight and my left eye on the target.
My last pair I bought from Lehman Optical.
http://www.lehmanoptical.net/
Give them your information and they will send you three trial lenses. Hold them up in front of your regular glasses and note which one clears up the sight without blurring the target too bad. They will adjust your master eye Rx by that "overplus."
Decot sells shooting glasses exclusively and will help you out similarly:
http://www.sportglasses.com/
I talked to the Morgan people, distributors of Randolph glasses at the SHOT Show and they were very helpful:
http://www.tpbweb.com/pageDisplay.jsp?pageid=7626
There are no doubt others but I have dealt with Lehman and talked to the others.
My last pair I bought from Lehman Optical.
http://www.lehmanoptical.net/
Give them your information and they will send you three trial lenses. Hold them up in front of your regular glasses and note which one clears up the sight without blurring the target too bad. They will adjust your master eye Rx by that "overplus."
Decot sells shooting glasses exclusively and will help you out similarly:
http://www.sportglasses.com/
I talked to the Morgan people, distributors of Randolph glasses at the SHOT Show and they were very helpful:
http://www.tpbweb.com/pageDisplay.jsp?pageid=7626
There are no doubt others but I have dealt with Lehman and talked to the others.
Nushif
Member
I've worn glasses for 12 years and I guess I still don't get what you're looking for. 
Open sights, and even scopes have never been a problem for me. My eyes function pretty much the same way with or without glasses. Except for the distance being fuzzy, of course.
Normal glasses have done the trick for me all this time.
Open sights, and even scopes have never been a problem for me. My eyes function pretty much the same way with or without glasses. Except for the distance being fuzzy, of course.
Normal glasses have done the trick for me all this time.
are you nearsighted or farsighted? if it's nearsightedness then you can get glasses to help you see distances more clearly, and the front sight won't be an issue regardless... vice versa with farsightedness. from what i recall farsightedness is more common with age than nearsightedness, and tends to be progressive with age, meaning the older you get the more trouble you have focusing on close up objects. is the front sight harder to focus on than the target? if it's presbyopia (not focusing as well close range or a distance) it's going to be a little harder to get around, as bifocals are for that, and you can't look through both parts of the lense at the same time. there is surgery for it, but i think it's for one eye focusing better at distances, and the other focusing close up. you may have to compromise and worry about what you have a worse time with.
Measure the distance to the sights, explain to the optometrist what you do and where the sights are and what you want to be able to do. That's all that was needed with mine.
Corporal K
member
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- Sep 24, 2007
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Lasik - worth every penny!
Go see an opthmologist (Medical Doctor), and have your eyes examined. It's possible your sight can be corredted with laser surgery. If that's not possible, I'm sure he can recommend a remedy for you.
If your going to get glasses, make sure they have impact lenses.
If your going to get glasses, make sure they have impact lenses.
As we age the ability of the lens of our eyes to "bend" and focus becomes less.
The days of focusing on the front sight, then target then back to the sight are over at about age 45-47.
You can have glasses made to make that front sight crystal clear, but the target will be a fuss ball at best.
If you always shoot the same size target at the same distance you will be able to find the right spot on that fuss ball to hold.
Some like tri-focals, but appear to be nodding their heads yes to see sight/target/sight while shooting.
A red dot or holographic sight super-imposes the dot to any target distance, and the dot and target will both be clear, with any normal distance correction glasses.
Others find that a fiber optic, front sight only, improves their sight alignment ability.
The days of focusing on the front sight, then target then back to the sight are over at about age 45-47.
You can have glasses made to make that front sight crystal clear, but the target will be a fuss ball at best.
If you always shoot the same size target at the same distance you will be able to find the right spot on that fuss ball to hold.
Some like tri-focals, but appear to be nodding their heads yes to see sight/target/sight while shooting.
A red dot or holographic sight super-imposes the dot to any target distance, and the dot and target will both be clear, with any normal distance correction glasses.
Others find that a fiber optic, front sight only, improves their sight alignment ability.
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I'm 61 and wear progressive bi-focals. They have some mid range focal point in them that will enable you to focus on the front pistol sight as well as being able to move your head and focus on the target. Of course you can't focus on both at the same time. My wife shoots wearing her computer glasses and it works great for her. No tilting of the head to get your eye focused on the front sight but the target is more out of focus than when wearing the progressive bi-focals.
When you're younger, your eyes can switch focus from the front sight to the target. When you get older, your eyes lose flexibility and you can't do it anymore. You can get a prescription so you can see the front sight or a prescription so you can see the target, but you can't see both on the same prescription.
Try this:
http://www.eyepalusa.com/
Try this:
http://www.eyepalusa.com/
oneounceload
member
Bi or tri-focals, depending on the doctor's exam might work, as would any of the modern corrective surgeries
Mike OTDP
Member
Back to the OP...
You aren't going to get a prescription that will let you see sharp both close up and at distance. Your eyes just no longer have the flexibility to get away with it. Neither do mine.
On the other hand, you don't need to see the target clearly. Certainly not for pistol. It's the sights, particularly the front sight, that must be seen clearly. You can measure the distance to the front sight, but probably the best option is to contact Dr. Alan Toler at www.customsightpicture.com and rent his kit. He's a serious competitive shooter, and he's renting a widget that clips onto your regular glasses and lets you fine-tune them...then you order a lens made to precisely the right strength to give you the best performance.
For rifle, you might have to go to a peep sight. That doesn't need to be in focus, as you are just looking through it. And you have a fighting chance of getting a prescription that puts both front sight and target in reasonable focus. Or you could just cheat and use an optical sight, if that is allowed.
And adding an iris such as a Merit will also improve depth of field. Those are cheap and non-prescription.
You aren't going to get a prescription that will let you see sharp both close up and at distance. Your eyes just no longer have the flexibility to get away with it. Neither do mine.
On the other hand, you don't need to see the target clearly. Certainly not for pistol. It's the sights, particularly the front sight, that must be seen clearly. You can measure the distance to the front sight, but probably the best option is to contact Dr. Alan Toler at www.customsightpicture.com and rent his kit. He's a serious competitive shooter, and he's renting a widget that clips onto your regular glasses and lets you fine-tune them...then you order a lens made to precisely the right strength to give you the best performance.
For rifle, you might have to go to a peep sight. That doesn't need to be in focus, as you are just looking through it. And you have a fighting chance of getting a prescription that puts both front sight and target in reasonable focus. Or you could just cheat and use an optical sight, if that is allowed.
And adding an iris such as a Merit will also improve depth of field. Those are cheap and non-prescription.
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hardluk1
member
I think the progressive is what i will to try for . A couple shooters that wear them say they work well and others like me that wear regular hard line by-focals have some problems with both focal points. Thats what i will try next.
Dr T
Member
Polycarbonate lenses (will stop bullets).
Continuous gradient (progressive) lenses.
Period.
Continuous gradient (progressive) lenses.
Period.
Jim Watson had the best sounding advise, and his is from experience, not guesswork.
I use some 1X reading glasses right now. It makes the sights less fuzzy, and doesn't fuzz up the target too bad. Some things it works OK for, but others it doesn't. I have added red dot sights to some hand guns, but, like you, I like to shoot open sights.
I may one day soon follow Jims advise myself.
I use some 1X reading glasses right now. It makes the sights less fuzzy, and doesn't fuzz up the target too bad. Some things it works OK for, but others it doesn't. I have added red dot sights to some hand guns, but, like you, I like to shoot open sights.
I may one day soon follow Jims advise myself.
ambidextrous1
Member
The Merit and Eyepal devices operate on the "pinhole camera" principle, and will increase your depth of focus significantly. You can "DIY" this idea by clamping a piece of plastic electrical tape between two smooth pieces of plastic or other material. Drill a small hole (start with 1/8 inch) through all pieces, discard the plastic and paste the electrical tape on your shooting glasses where you can sight through the hole.
For optimum results, wear prescription lenses ground to focus at your "front sight" distance; explain what you want to your opthamologist.
This works well for bullseye shooting, but not for personal defense, for obvious reasons.
If you're mechanically challenged, buy the Merit (or other) device.
For optimum results, wear prescription lenses ground to focus at your "front sight" distance; explain what you want to your opthamologist.
This works well for bullseye shooting, but not for personal defense, for obvious reasons.
If you're mechanically challenged, buy the Merit (or other) device.
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It is not always that simple. I wear progressive lenses and if you don't work with someone to get the bifocal part on the lense high enough you end up with your head tilted at an odd angle or leaned way back to try and focus on the sight. Then you are lucky if you can see the target at all.
I just had my glasses redone and had the bifocal part moved up. It is much better! I don't have to lean back so far. I am also working with contacts. The jury is still out on that.
Because of my prescription I am not a candidate for Lasic at this time, according to the Doc, Lasic may soon be advanced enough for me to be eligible.
My wife had Lasic a few years ago and she told the Doc she wanted to shoot better so they did one eye for distance vision and one for up close. They can do this with contacts too, personally I think my head would explode. She is now deadly with her Glock 19 or open sights on a rifle.
The first step is to hunt for a optometrist who will work with you. When you find one it doesn't matter if they shoot if they are willing to listen and work with you.
Good Luck, Mike
I just had my glasses redone and had the bifocal part moved up. It is much better! I don't have to lean back so far. I am also working with contacts. The jury is still out on that.
Because of my prescription I am not a candidate for Lasic at this time, according to the Doc, Lasic may soon be advanced enough for me to be eligible.
My wife had Lasic a few years ago and she told the Doc she wanted to shoot better so they did one eye for distance vision and one for up close. They can do this with contacts too, personally I think my head would explode.
She is now deadly with her Glock 19 or open sights on a rifle.The first step is to hunt for a optometrist who will work with you. When you find one it doesn't matter if they shoot if they are willing to listen and work with you.
Good Luck, Mike
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22-rimfire
Member
Same here at least for handguns. I use the same special pair of perscription glasses for both my computer work and shooting since the screen is at about arms length in my current set up. It works.
jcwit
member
I suppose that would work if one is farsighted. In my case I couldn't find the firing line let alone the target, fuzzy or not.
74 Highboy
Member
For more information try http://www.starreloaders.com/edhall/nwongarts.html
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