Iron sights and prescription glasses. What's your solution?

[SunnySlopes]

I wear progressive lenses and it's somewhat difficult to use iron sights in all circumstances.

Long story short, I had some special glasses made with the optical center at the upper right of the left lens. (I shoot left handed.) This is an acceptable configuration for iron sighted long guns and when I use the Weaver stance for handguns.

However, when I shoot handguns with my progressive lenses, I have to use the Fairbairn Isosceles stance. Those who wear progressive lenses understand the dilemma.

I'm curious as to how THR shooters deal with this? Also, is something like this practical?

 

[High Plains]

Have you considered using a large aperture rear sight for rifles or a 3-dot rear sight for pistols?

 

[SunnySlopes]

Have you considered using a large aperture rear sight for rifles or a 3-dot rear sight for pistols?

Not practical for the number of firearms I have. And most are older, out of production, and I don't want to destroy their collectability. Hence, my quest for the perfect all around eyeglass configuration, if such exists.

 

[High Plains]

Not practical for the number of firearms I have. And most are older, out of production, and I don't want to destroy their collectability. Hence, my quest for the perfect all around eyeglass configuration, if such exists.

Roger. Preserving the firearms is a good reason to go the glasses route.

 

[Riomouse911]

I got lenses with three ranges of focus, my optometrist called them “computer lenses”.

The uppermost is set for my distance prescription.
The middle is set for “computer distance”, which is roughly one and a half to two and a half feet.
The lower is set for reading.

My lenses are the seamless ones which makes for an easy transition between the focus settings.

As I load the magazines or the gun in close, things are in focus with a slight up tilt of my head.
As I extend my arms to shoot, the front sight is in clear focus with my head held level.
A slight dip of my head brings the target in focus for alignment, then I raise it slightly for front sight focus and the shot.

This has worked for me, no special diopter or eyepatches needed. Those work great at the range but aren’t on your nose when you’re out and about and you may need to operate your chosen firearm. I can wear these lenses all day in the office (which is what they were designed for) and even drive home with them if I wanted to.

Just a suggestion for something that I found works well at the range, YMMV.

Good luck! Nothing is worse than your eyesight getting fuzzy enough to make shooting difficult.

Stay safe.

 

[SunnySlopes]

I got lenses with three ranges of focus, my optometrist called them “computer lenses”.

The uppermost is set for my distance prescription.
The middle is set for “computer distance”, which is roughly one and a half to two and a half feet.
The lower is set for reading.

My lenses are the seamless ones which makes for an easy transition between the focus settings.

Yes, that's what I specified in my OP. They are called "progressive" lenses. A lot of shooters have them but they complain that to see the sights they have to hold their head at an awkward angle.

I also mentioned a special pair of shooting glasses I had made where the "mid range" correction is actually at the top right of the lens. Lens makers can craft any configuration you want, but nobody can make a single set of lenses to accommodate all types of shooting for every prescription.

Some shooters aren't as bad off as others, and have milder prescriptions. That allows more leeway.

 

[Archie]

Bifocals do not seem to work my facial geometry. I have 'distance' spectacles and 'reading' spectacles. I have to change back and forth. Which is one of the reasons I have scopes on nearly all my rifles. One can set the crosshairs for either sort of vision, and so I wear the 'distance' glasses for moving about and do not have to change.

Handguns I have to change. I have used the drug store clip on type for adding magnification to my distance glasses and that is simper than switching glasses. Wear them 'up' until game is spotted, then flip 'down' to aim. I do have a couple rifles with iron sights and the age of the rifles do not permit alterations. Same for military rifles.

Happily, when I go Home, God will issue me new and guaranteed eyes.

 

[daniel craig]

Monovision Lasik?

 

[SunnySlopes]

Monovision Lasik?

Not a candidate. Forget why. Astigmatism, maybe?

 

[daniel craig]

Not a candidate. Forget why. Astigmatism, maybe?

Well. That’s a bummer for sure.

 

[obiwan1]

I've used single vision "computer glasses" for years. My computer screen is 30" from my face - which is the same distance as a handgun front sight. Those glasses work great for target shooting/plinking. I don't wear them when tactical training as I don't spend my life walking around with computer glasses on my face.

 

[Pudge]

My progressives allowed me to start using irons again. They aren't perfect, but WAY better than nothing or readers. Burris Fastfire and Crimson Trace have helped.

 

[denton]

A small aperture fixes the problem for me and my eyes are 77 years old. In photography, if you stop your lens down to f22, everything is in focus. Same thing works with your eyes.

The cheap approach is to make about a 1/8" aperture out of black electrical tape, and stick it on your glasses. I did that for a long time.

The better solution is the Merit aperture. It's a little variable aperture with a suction cup that you stick on the lens of your dominant eye.

You do give up brightness, but that is ok if you have plenty of light. It's a good trade to be able to actually see the sights.

 

[Gun4Fun90]

I am left eye dominant so not the exact same problem but still causes me problems with iron sights on handguns. My solution? I have just come to accept the target will always be a little out of focus when shooting plain iron sights and I have learned to ignore the ghost image when aiming. Just as simple as that.

a cruddy solution? Yes. But can you lean to live with it? Also yes.

 

[roval]

learn to shoot with a fuzzy sight picture. tilt your head up to see the sight alignment and then bring your head down and remember what the fuzzy front sight pic that corresponds to it. if you had to use your guns for real you would be shooting with your regular glasses or even without one.

if impossible then a red dot.

 

[George P]

Not practical for the number of firearms I have. And most are older, out of production, and I don't want to destroy their collectability. Hence, my quest for the perfect all around eyeglass configuration, if such exists.

I wear glasses for distance (and bifocals for normal things) I solved my issue by focusing in my target, NOT my front sight. I know, heresy among the pistoleros, but what you do when shooting shotguns and I have been doing that even longer than handguns. If I only focus on the front sight, the target is a total blur and my shot groups, even at 10 yards, are horrendous. With my focus on the target and the front sight as a blur in my peripheral, my grouping are all where they should be.

 

[alfsauve]

I struggled with it until I had cataract surgery. I opted for 20/20 in both eyes, because, having breen severely nearsighted my whole life, I wanted perfect far vision for once. Of course now I need readers. But several companies make safety glasses just for shooting with a reader insert in the top of the lens not the bottom. I ordered two sets. One with the magnifier lenses and one plain. Then swapped out the lens so only the dominant eye has the reader.

 

[wiscoaster]

I got my optometrist to make me a "shooting" prescription which is adjusted for sight distance in the right lense and plain glass in the left.

 

[3Crows]

Iron sights and prescription glasses. What's your solution?

A scope .

 

[Laphroaig]

I doubt if you'll find a solution that works for everything. I have multiple glasses for target shooting and still have issues between different rifles and shooting positions. I can't use the same glasses to shoot prone and standing due to the different head tilt angle. For pistol I use a Merit Optical device and concentrate on a front sight focus.

None of these are much good for hunting or self defense type situations. It sucks getting old; the eyes are the second thing to go. I can't remember what the first is.

 

[Pat Riot]

I have worn glasses all my life.
I have tried pretty much every eyeglass lens solution.
My eyes have gotten worse over the years.
My solution is contrast. Lighter front sights vs darker rear or front and rear contrasting sights like 3 dot sights or Glock style sights.

 

[Pistolay]

My shooting glasses are progressive lenses that only go out to roughly computer distance.

 

[Geauga Bob]

I wear bifocals and had problems with computer screens and iron sights. Then a buddy told me get a pair of readers that are one-half the strength of the bifocal reading lenses. So I found a pair of cheapo 1-1/4 readers (my bifocal is 2 - couldn't find a 1 power) and solved both problems!

Can now see the computer monitor just fine and shooting vision is very much improved. Can see both front and rear sights very well and the target is just a little fuzzy but not bad at all.

Before spending big bucks for prescription lenses try the cheap readers first!

Bob