snappy
.30 Stingray
Posts: 421
|
Post by snappy on Nov 30, 2013 12:04:22 GMT -5
I have come to the conclusion that my shooting at distance will never improve unless I deal with my eyes. If I remember correctly the left eye is near sighted and the right far sighted with astigmatism. When I got my glasses the prescription was pretty mild in both eyes and they were mostly for driving at night and long reading sessions. I hate wearing the things so wore them infrequently. That was 16 years ago.
I'm stubborn but can't deny the degradation that has come with age. I shoot right handed but sight with the left eye for sharp front sight picture. Shooting with both eyes open just falls apart beyond about 10 yards. Accuracy with my sixguns at 25 yards on out changes drastically as the eyes fatigue, and combined with all the other factors for consistent accuracy at distance, well I am just wasting lead at this point.
Any of you bespectacled shootists have any advice/experience you'd be willing to share here? I don't have the dough for an expensive setup but am open to all suggestions. Thanks for your time-
|
|
axel
.30 Stingray
Posts: 146
|
Post by axel on Nov 30, 2013 20:50:03 GMT -5
I am fortunate in that my opthamologist is also a pistol shooter. I measured the distance from my right eye to the front sight on a gun that has a barrel of median length among my collection, and took it with me at the time of my last eye exam. Once I was tested and fitted for my new glasses, I told him that I wanted a dedicated set of shooting glasses that would allow me to focus on the front sight at that distance. He recommended a set of glasses like his own dedicated shooting specs; something that was exactly what I wanted to hear.
I do a lot of shooting and those glasses changed everything for me in that I can now see well enough to shoot again, without them I can not even find my front sight anymore, and yet with them I do pretty well. They were not cheap; about the cost of another gun, but for me worth every penny, even though I live on a modest fixed income.
Several of my friends have resorted to buying and using the cheap drugstore reading glasses, and some of them do pretty good with them, once they settle on the proper lens calibration. If cost is a big issue, that might be a good place to start.
|
|
|
|
Post by vonfatman on Nov 30, 2013 21:23:53 GMT -5
|
|
Paden
.375 Atomic
Lower Goldstream Creek
Posts: 1,132
|
Post by Paden on Nov 30, 2013 23:39:33 GMT -5
I am fortunate in that my opthamologist is also a pistol shooter. I measured the distance from my right eye to the front sight on a gun that has a barrel of median length among my collection, and took it with me at the time of my last eye exam. Once I was tested and fitted for my new glasses, I told him that I wanted a dedicated set of shooting glasses that would allow me to focus on the front sight at that distance. He recommended a set of glasses like his own dedicated shooting specs; something that was exactly what I wanted to hear. I do a lot of shooting and those glasses changed everything for me in that I can now see well enough to shoot again, without them I can not even find my front sight anymore, and yet with them I do pretty well. They were not cheap; about the cost of another gun, but for me worth every penny, even though I live on a modest fixed income. Are you near-sighted or far-sighted? Do you normally wear single vision lenses, or bifocals? That's a great idea, tho unfortunately I don't think it would work for a guy like me who's eyes are getting to the point that I should be wearing bifocals. If I had a single-vision prescription that allowed me to see the front sight clearly, I wouldn't be able to see anything but a foggy blur downrange. Right now I settle for a relatively clear downrange target image, but really blurry front sight. I can't see (pun) how there's any way to have it both ways. |
|
|
|
Post by nolongcolt on Dec 1, 2013 1:44:05 GMT -5
I use varying powers of store bought reading glasses per the activity. I was using an older pair of prescription lenses for pistol shooting but now find I see the sights better with cheapo 1.5 glasses. I still use the prescription jobs for rifle shooting with irons. With rifle scopes I back the eyepiece out all the way or nearly so depending on the scope for sharp focus, no glasses.
|
|
Shakey
.327 Meteor
Central Arkansas
Posts: 543
|
Post by Shakey on Dec 1, 2013 4:10:27 GMT -5
Snappy, These comments are from the perspective of someone who has worn glasses for over 60 years and constantly struggled to obtain the best view of the world possible. For some reason, I just marvel at the world our vision provides. To not see as much or that world as possible is anathema to me. If I read you right, you are not wanting glasses for everyday use but some to use only while shooting. The reading glasses suggested can help a lot but, since you say you have near/far sightedness and astigmatism, I STRONGLY suggest you go ahead and get a set of prescription lenses for everyday wear with a bifocal like axel suggested. (You can just tell the ophthalmologist to set the bifocal for 30 in., That will be close enough.) As we age, nothing gets better, only WORSE. You may be getting along OK now without day-to-day glasses but, eventually, a reasonable person will give in and wear glasses. You might as well do it now and enjoy the benefits sooner rather than later. Get a good ophthalmologist and follow their advice. You mentioned being stubborn, ...don't mean to be harsh but, GET OVER IT, or getting old will be harder than necessary. Aging requires a LOT of compromises. Wearing glasses is one of the least, ...pretty trivial, actually. If you insist on single-vision glasses, stick-on bifocals are a good option. They can be attached to your every-day glasses or shooting glasses (or sunglasses) anywhere you want on the lens. They sound pretty "gadgety" but actually work VERY well. I have used them a LOT. (Go to Wal-Mart and try their reading glasses to figure out what power you need.)
optx2020.com/p-2-hydrotac-stick-on-bifocal-reading-lenses.aspx
Shop around though, they can be had for about half what they ask. If you look around the internet, you will find flip-up bifocals. These work, ...sort-of, ...but, not-so-great. ---------------------------------------------------------- Axel, ......If your ophthalmologist did anything "special" for your lenses, I would appreciate details. |
|
|
|
Post by AxeHandle on Dec 1, 2013 7:28:37 GMT -5
Many old guys swear by the The Merit Optical Attachment. ads.midwayusa.com/product/978528/merit-optical-attachment-with-suction-cupThis old guy is planning to have a special set of glasses made. Had a set made just for driving a few years ago. Best thing I ever did for driving. Can't read the instrument panel with them but man can I see the road and stuff out front of the car! |
|
jsh
.327 Meteor
Posts: 884
|
Post by jsh on Dec 1, 2013 8:19:49 GMT -5
As mentioned above if you can find a doctor that is shooter friendly it is a bit better.
I have worn glasses for 40 of my 50 years. Yes I still cuss them. Tried contacts and just couldn't get over poking something in my eye. Though I will say the worked very well. However on the contacts I never noticed how much dust flys around in the air. Back to spectacles. Safety glasses and regular glasses have saved my peepers more than once.
When they put me in bifocals this last time I was way more concerned about my shooting than I was anything else seeing related. I still wanted it all see that deer at the edge of the timber a 1/4 mile out and my front sight. Well it ain't gonna happen like it used too.
I have three pairs of glasse now that I use. You need to tell the doctor what YOU want and expect. I did just that when I went to bifocals. After some discussion with her, new young lady in my opt's office cuter than a bug. I gave in and went with what she suggested. I told her I didn't think it would work. She said if I was t happy to come back and she would make it right. Well I did end up going back. She made it right.
I am a hard headed old coot. I still didn't feel good about what I was seeing on the range. We worked out what I could see the best of both worlds with a regular pair of glasses. I can drive with them but I notice a lot of blur at times. I can't read with them either. I wear the bifocals 90% of the time.
I am near sighed btw. I have tried the merit it it won't work for me as I think most people are far sighted.
Dunno if you have priced glasses but a lot of lenses are made in house now. I hate plastic but for shooting and range use not e dry day they will last a long time.
We can swap bullets, loads and guns and everything works good to excellent.
Eyes are eachs own. What works for one doesn't on the other. So don't go for an exam and settle for anything less than you want. But be patient as you may have to have them explain that they can only fine tune too a point.
Dang it! I sure wish I had appreciated iron sights more 30 years ago. Get a better feeling of shooting a 4" group iron sighted as I do a bug hole with glass
Jeff
|
|
|
|
Post by bradshaw on Dec 1, 2013 9:41:22 GMT -5
snappy.... I'm still on the worn out prescription of my second pair of glasses. Believe I got the first pair somewhere around age forty. In youth I had strong eyesight, measuring 20-5, sometimes 20-10 on the focus grid, which seams a very coarse test. One of my rifle coaches, Hartely Perry "High Power" Smith, sitting behind me and looking through the huge Unertl spotting scope on the 600 yard line, said, "Enjoy your eyes now. Come forty, you'll lose acuity." H.P. Smith's words were abstract to a sixteen year old.
For my first prescription, I asked around for a sharp optometrist, and called a young man who hadn't been at it long. Said to him I want my eyes measured while sighting a pistol. "That'll be a new experience for me," he said. "Bring your handgun." My eyes are balanced, although I am cross-lateral dominant with left eye dominant. I don't know what it's like to have a large disparity in eye strength. I generally shoot right hand/right eye; left hand/left eye. I do better with shotgun from left shoulder. A marksman with strong cross-lateral dominance should shoot strong eye over strong hand. You just can't do that with a buttstock.
SIGHTING
* Binocular----both eyes open.
* Monocular----one eye open.
* Squint----one eye open; one eye partially open.
Of the three ways to sight, pick whichever allows you to see the clearest sight picture. As is true of stance and grip, one size does not fit all. To put it country simple: you don't want a double sight picture.
A phenomenon which I have observed numerous times while spotting, and which I attribute to an individual's eyesight, registers as either:
* Horizontal stringing----shots spread sideways; little or no vertical dispersion.
* Vertical stringing----shots spread vertically; little or no horizontal dispersion.
Specifically, this dispersion is not due to load or grip or flinch. Near as I can tell the flaw is visual, or optical.
READING GLASSES are not shooting glasses. These cheap critters are designed for extremely short depth of focus. I cannot see how one can shoot with reading glasses, as ferocious distortion takes over just beyond focal length. A scope accentuates distortion magnifying it. Leastwise, that is what I see.
PRESCRIPTION SHOOTING GLASSES----see a sympathetic optometrist.
* Measure eye while focussing on front sight.
* Select a large area glass and durable frame.
* Wash only with warm water and mild soap with clean fingers or 100% cotton flannel.
* Strong glass case, and use it.
* Plastic scuffs much sooner than glass, but plastic is lighter and more impact resistant.
David Bradshaw
|
|
|
|
Post by magman on Dec 1, 2013 9:59:16 GMT -5
I've been blessed by finding a optometrist who is both a gunshooter and bowhunter. My prescription wears well for me. My latest prescription with progressives requires that I find the place on my glasses where things are clear with iron sights and the peep sight on my bow. I attribute it to aging eyes. Once I find that spot the sights are very clear.
|
|
joej
.30 Stingray
Enter your message here...
Posts: 352
|
Post by joej on Dec 1, 2013 11:55:52 GMT -5
I think I posted on here before about shooting glasses but I went to my opthamologist with my 1911 in hand. He made me a pair of shooting glasses that restored my eyesight to younger days. I am nearsighted and could see my irons fair but my target was a pulsating blurr - today everything is very sharp and sight alignment is very precise - cost, if I remember correctly, it was right around $350/375 with two sets of lens, 1 smoked set and 1 clear.
The only thing better than prescription shooting glasses in my opinion is using a red dot with your regular eyeglasses, as you don't need to align your sights and that normally will make a better shooter out of anyone who has consistence grip and trigger control.
|
|
|
|
Post by nolongcolt on Dec 1, 2013 14:29:19 GMT -5
Everyone's eyes are a bit different. I get by pretty well with cheap reading glasses in certain situations, not all. I don't recommend it necessarily but it works for me.
|
|
|
|
Post by taffin on Dec 1, 2013 17:56:01 GMT -5
I have come to the conclusion that my shooting at distance will never improve unless I deal with my eyes. If I remember correctly the left eye is near sighted and the right far sighted with astigmatism. When I got my glasses the prescription was pretty mild in both eyes and they were mostly for driving at night and long reading sessions. I hate wearing the things so wore them infrequently. That was 16 years ago. I'm stubborn but can't deny the degradation that has come with age. I shoot right handed but sight with the left eye for sharp front sight picture. Shooting with both eyes open just falls apart beyond about 10 yards. Accuracy with my sixguns at 25 yards on out changes drastically as the eyes fatigue, and combined with all the other factors for consistent accuracy at distance, well I am just wasting lead at this point. Any of you bespectacled shootists have any advice/experience you'd be willing to share here? I don't have the dough for an expensive setup but am open to all suggestions. Thanks for your time- FIND AN EYE DOCTOR WHO WILL ALLOW YOU TO BRING GUNS INTO THE OFFICE. HE CAN FIT YOU WITH A HEADPIECE THAT WILL ALLOW DIFFERENT LENSES TO BE TRIED AND SEE WHAT WORKS BEST BY SIGHTING AT TARGETS OUT THE WINDOW. |
|
snappy
.30 Stingray
Posts: 421
|
Post by snappy on Dec 1, 2013 21:34:37 GMT -5
So much great detailed info and experience here, thank you all! At this point I am resigned to the fact that committing to daily wear is warranted. Urgh... I'll look for the right doc and put my money where my aim is. Once measured up I should be more informed about possibly using stuff like stick on bi-focals (cool!), reading glasses with lenses switched out, apertures etc. I appreciate all the advice here guys.
The astigmatism might be the crux. When shooting rifles with red dots right handed, the dot usually looks like a cross between a grape cluster and a firework. A rear aperture does round the dot back out a good bit, however I rarely shot those at any distance and just aimed with the grapes. Also had a red dot mounted on my MK II for a while. A 2 moa dot turned down low was a pretty fun and usable sight. The offset caused by a high no-drill mount made for really variable poi at different distances and with different ammo, so I took it off.
My main goal, aside from improving quality of life in general, is to shoot handguns more consistently and more accurately with open sights. Right now, when focusing on the front sight the target turns to mush. The shift of focus back and forth from target to front sight becomes necessary and you have to split the difference somewhere. If a pair of shooting glasses can be "made to order" to help split that difference, then it would certainly be worth the price of a gun to me. Thank you all again for your helpful posts!
|
|
axel
.30 Stingray
Posts: 146
|
Post by axel on Dec 1, 2013 23:38:24 GMT -5
I use varying powers of store bought reading glasses per the activity. I was using an older pair of prescription lenses for pistol shooting but now find I see the sights better with cheapo 1.5 glasses. I still use the prescription jobs for rifle shooting with irons. With rifle scopes I back the eyepiece out all the way or nearly so depending on the scope for sharp focus, no glasses. I left out some detail. I wear progressive lenses that keep me out of bifocals or even trifocals, which I have had to wear in the past. I don't know whether I am near or far sighted. I just know that I don't see clearly at any range without glasses, but up close is worse. My shooting glasses have what I call a normal progressive lens on the left or my weak side. The right lens, dominant or strong side, is tuned for focusing on the target at normal handgun ranges from up close out to 50 yards. The upper part of the right lens has a bifocal cut that allows me to focus on the front sight. The way it works for me is that I aim my gun at the target, which appears clearly, I then tilt my head only slightly forward as I would normally do anyhow, and voila, my front sight is sharp and clear, while my target is now blurry, but believe me, it's the front sight that counts, hand down. This system really works for me, but may not be for everyone. |
|
