Scopes and eye glasses

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Caliper_Mi

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OK, so I wear glasses. They correct for nearsightedness and an astigmatism so I always wear them when shooting iron sights. When shooting rifles with optical sights, I have usually removed my glasses (and wear standard safety glasses of course) due to thinking that looking through two sets of optics that were not made to work together would cause problems. Recently I have been wondering if this was the wrong way of thinking. Could my astigmatism be causing me problems when shooting through scopes? Should I wear my eyeglasses when shooting scopes or not? I'm testing this with my .22 and some paper (most fun way :D ) wanted to see if anyone had experience with this situation?
 
You may consider prescription safety glasses. They're designed with side shields and impact resistant just like your typical safety glasses, but you can take your prescription to the local optics place and have them made up.

If you're not concerned about the "look" of them..they're not much more than a regular pair of glasses.
 
i wear my regular prescription glasses while shooting through scopes and i have yet to notice a problem.
 
Combining "optics" shouldn't cause any issues. Removing your glasses will only hurt your shooting. I'm heavily nearsighted and astigmatic so I have no choice in the matter. The only effect I've noticed is that astigmatism can cause red dots to appear blurry.
 
Howdy.

Some of us have a stigmatism in one eye, and cannot get contacts. At least that's what my eye doc said. Having one contact would be fine with me. Half price, right?
 
"...impact resistant..." All prescription lenses are impact resistant.
"...Should I wear my eyeglasses..." You won't know until you try it. Only wear mine when driving or want to see the on screen TV guide clearly.
 
My wife is an optican so I'm going to let her address a few things about this topic:

Normally unless you are very nearsighted as in a -5.00 you should have no problems shooting without your glasses on.
As far as the astigmatism is concerned, mine is a -2.25 and I have no problems sighting on the scope by using the rear optic adjustment. The best way to shoot is the way that is most comfortable for you.
But, please remember unless your lenses in your glasses are polycarb they are not shatterproof. These lenses are
lighter and thinner. They can be cracked, but will not shatter. Now to the gentleman with
the astigmatism and the contact lenses. There is a lens
called gas permeable and I have patients with a -6.00 that wear this contact lense with no problems.
Back to me. You also might try having the scope moved alittle rearward. Before my catarac surgery I was prettty farsighted, 20/200, so I had my scopes moved forward in the rings and compensated with the rear optic adjustment. I never wore my glasses while hunting. I always found the upper left corner of the lens was invaribily smudged/dusty. After my catarac removal
don't even have a script in my shootin eye other then for the bifocal which does not affect my scope picture. Hope this helped
 
Pacsd,
After my cataract removal (both eyes) I have a lot of trouble sighting in a pistol with out tilting my head way up so I can see the sights clearly, than what I'm aiming at is all fuzzy. Any tips? I had my first surgery at the age of 34, and so did my twin brother. Sucks!
 
Using two lenses (the scope and your glasses) is not a problem. A telescope has at least two lenses and they work fine. The problem most people have is either their glasses fogging or not being able to focus on the target to get aligned and then the front sight or dot/crosshair/etc with/without their glasses/contact lenses. Practice shooting with your glasses and use your bifocal/progressive to see the front sight. Make sure the height is correct for the bifocal and then practice shooting.
 
+1 Practice shooting with your prescription glasses, particularly if you are a hunter. If you practice without your prescription eyes and have your scope focused for same and then have to remove your glasses to shoot, you'll lose many shot opportunities in the field.
 
I need to wear trifocals all the time. With them off, I cannot see close and I cannot see far.

Since I have been wearing glasses for over 25 years, I have always adjusted the scope to be clear with my glasses on, as I need the glasses to do everything else.

I have a pair of Bushnell Binoculars. For those, in order to get them close to my eyes, I need to remove my glasses. I can remove my glasses and focus those perfectly for any distance without the glasses.

So, for binoculars or a telescope, I remove the glasses. For shooting of any sort, through any kind of sight, optic, etc. I use my glasses without any problems at all.
 
Bleys, wow, that's pretty young to have cataracs. I didn't need to start wearing glasses til well into my forties and didn't get the catarac surgery til I was 67. My left eye isn't quite ready for removal though. To be honest, I didn't remember snow being THAT white. Anyway, I seldom shoot handguns so I really can't help you with your question. I don't have any problem with my scopes.
 
Lex- Your doctor is wrong about not being able to get contacts. My eyes have two very distinct prescriptions and I have to order a supply of each different script. You should be able to get contacts for the astigmatism for the one eye and a regular set for the other. Do you have glasses? How is it different to have two separate lenses in glasses but cant have two separate ones in contacts?

Go to a different eye doctor if yours doesn't feel this is possible. My mother works for a very well respected optometrist in and he does that for me.
 
right eye, left eye

I had a pair of shooting glasses made up this way: the Right lens was my closeup reading lens, and the Left lens was my distance lens. Seems to work pretty well.
Jim
 
@crm7290: That is very interesting. I am not surprised that someone in the medical community got a detail wrong. I will check it out.

As I get older, ugh, the glasses for for reading and night driving. Have always wanted a pair of custom safety glasses anyway.
 
There is no scope adjustment for astigmatism, Blu.

Wear your glasses. That's what I do. Corrective glasses do not "mess up" the scope's optics.

If you hunt with the scope, put a mark where the adjustment ring should be set in case you lose or break your glasses. It won't be ideal--in fact, won't work well at all if there's lots of astigmatism--buy knowing precisely how to focus that scope could prevent you from missing a shot.
Your doctor is wrong about not being able to get contacts.
Click to expand...
Not necessarily. Not all eyes can be fitted with contacts, and not every person can tolerate the contacts that would sometimes be required. But getting a second opinion is worthwhile. Be aware, if you ask enough people, someone will eventually sell you something--whether it works or not!
 
I have worn prescription glasses for 50 years, and have always worn them when shooting. No problem with scope has been encountered.
If you do not wear what you would have on when hunting what do you expect to accomplish with your practice?

Regards,
Jerry
 
I've always adjusted the focus of the scope so that it's clear.
Click to expand...
+1
Wear the glasses, then adjust the ocular lens on the scope so the cross-hairs are crystal clear when you pull it up and quickly look at the bright blue sky.

Don't try to focus the scope while staring through it and twisting the lens!
Your eye will try to adjust to the fuzzy scope image faster then you can twist the lens.

rc
 
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