Old eyes going bad

[doubleset]

Then there's the issue of astigmatism. I had significant astigmatism (particularly in my right eye) for most of my life. When I had my IOL (aka "cataract") surgery, the insurance (Medicare and my secondary) paid for the surgery and would have paid for "standard" implants. But I had to pay $1,000 per implant out of pocket because neither would pay for lenses that corrected astigmatism. Why? The reason given was that these were not covered because astigmatism could be corrected with glasses (which of course those policies also didn't cover). But if you don't correct your astigmatism one way or another (via the implant lenses or with glasses in addition to the implants), you won't be seeing your sights all that well. My astigmatism is now nicely corrected with the IOL lenses I chose. -- even though it cost me $2,000 out of pocket. Worth every penny of it.

 

[Coinneach]

Have you talked to your eye doctor about corrective lenses specifically for shooting? Getting the front sight in focus can help immensely. An aperture or "peep" mounted on the barrel, like a Marble Bullseye or Skinner along with a white front bead can work miracles for aging eyes, as well. Both remedies worked pretty good for me, but now that I have had cataract surgery open sights are no longer an issue. Weaver bases should allow you to remove & replace the scope & most open sights will allow you to see over the bases. If not, you can get higher open sights that will. The scope will need to be mounted pretty far forward on the barrel so a "Scout" or pistol scope would serve your purpose, preferably a 2.5X or low power variable.

I struggled with Cataracts for years ( a specialist advised me that Margarine is a contributor) and finally had corrective Eye surgery last year (one Eye at a time), my Lenses were replaced with a tiny synthetic version thats certainly worth the expense; I can now read and sight like I did in the 30's.

 

[Coinneach]

There's several choices that @Bruce H has. The choices all hinge on personal cost. At 73 Medicare will pay for the simple cataract replacement. But means that you will still need reading glasses. The next step at modest cost will address astigmatism. You get clearer vision but reading glasses will be needed. There is a much more expensive multifocal replacement lens that will take care of the cataracts, correct for astigmatism and provide for multifocal vision and reading glasses will not be required. Several members of my gun club have the simple replacement and shoot very well with their reading glasses. I did the vanity thing and sprung for the expensive replacement.

Fortunately our Aussie DVA covers everything for Gold Card level Vets, getting shot at and wounded, PTSD etc in the service of your country has its long term benefits after all.

 

[Ballshooter]

I have been refining a design for folding tang peep and expect to be making it available here very soon. Its adjustable for windage and elevation and mounts with the tang screw. Sourcing of materials has delayed release.

View attachment 119686 View attachment 119687 View attachment 119688

I would buy!

 

[Ballshooter]

I opened up the rear sight to a U shape on my GPR and it helped a ton really made me focus on the front sight. I used a chainsaw file

 

[deerstalkert]

i built a longrifle and didn't/couldn't decide on what back sight i wanted on it, so i made a kinda sorta peep from scrap brass and installed it.
after some tweeking of the aperture i got it settled down.
now my eyes are such that i can't drive much anymore, but i can shoot with that sight! like it so much it is going to be permanent i think.

 

[Coinneach]

i built a longrifle and didn't/couldn't decide on what back sight i wanted on it, so i made a kinda sorta peep from scrap brass and installed it.
after some tweeking of the aperture i got it settled down.
now my eyes are such that i can't drive much anymore, but i can shoot with that sight! like it so much it is going to be permanent i think.View attachment 120174

If it works for you brother....use it.

 

[Bruce H]

WOW, do I ever have some reading to do!! I can see that, like most things in life, rarely are things simple and easy. Thanks to all for the comments and suggestions.

 

[stikshooter]

I have a .50 Pedersoli Frontier rifle. I don't do a lot of shooting other than deer hunting. My problem is that it's getting very difficult to focus on the sights. A few years back I put fiber optic sights on and it just about killed me to do it to that rifle! That helped a lot, but now it's getting hard with even those sights. Now I'm actually considering a <gasp> scope so I can continue deer hunting and be reasonably sure of a clean kill. Does anyone know of a decent replica of an old scope that might work on that rifle and not look horrible? Or am I realistically looking at something from the folks at Leupold? Any gotchca's to doing that?

The other thing that I'm wondering about is is every year the gun club I belong to has a Youth Day and Ladies Day weekend. I always bring my ML out both days and the kids shoot one or two rounds Saturday and the ladies shoot the same Sunday. I'm pretty sure I know the answer, but is there such a thing as scope mounts that are at least somewhat easy to take off for those two days? It just doesn't seem right to be demoing a ML with a modern scope.

Leupolds are probably cheaper and more practical , why most of my side locks (wear them) ! Saves missing/crippling or misidentifying the critter in question (point restrictions) and Leupolds are easy to replace/warrantee /mounting/ replacing ! The choice is easy for me as I'm not getting any better eye wise and with out scopes I could just watch TV hunts and be miserable ,screw tradition I like eating what I kill without a guilty conscience . My scoped sidelocks are fast twist even a few 1-48twist so I'm not talking round ball ./Ed

 

[rod_div]

Aperture dot on a pair of glasses. I use safety glasses with stick on dot works great got my on ebay. Inexpensive been long time user give it a try.

 

[doubleset]

I made this devise many years ago for competitive shooting & hunting to deal with my astigmatism & being near-sighted.

I think I'm going to try this! I just got out my Ghemann adjustable iris out and discovered it won't fit on my current (Howard Leight) shooting glasses -- just doesn't work with the contour and thickness of the lenses. However, in just fumbling with it and trying it out, I can see that what it accomplishes is a kind of "changing of the light and contrast" of the target at 50 yards that makes the image somewhat clearer. Definitely worth a try. Don't think I have any film canisters, but something else around here will work -- like maybe the canisters for diabetes test strips -- which look suspiciously like film canisters. Or possibly ... hmmmmm ... I can use the fancy Gehmann iris with one of those jeweler's loupe frames since that iris is just held onto its clamp mechanism by two tiny screws.

Another project. Thanks for posting this!!

 

[Pukka Sahib]

I used to jokingly say that if your rear sight is blurry, it’s time for a new pair of glasses. However, my CVA Hawken has the adjustable primitive rear sight which puts the groove about two inches closer to my face. Although they come standard on some rifles, they’re for lazy people who don’t want to file anything down. Once they’re adjusted properly, you never touch them again. Needless to say, that sight has become blurry lately.

I have a Chambers Issac Haines rifle I shoot most of the time and the rear sight is fixed. I have no problem seeing it. That makes me want to put one on my CVA.

A couple of eye exams ago, my Optometrist found out that I shoot guns. She suggested Trifocals. I’m really not sure whether that helped or not.

A couple of guys in the club had cataract surgery. They claim their vision is now 20/20.

Lastly, for hunting and even target shooting, some of my older friends use a tang-mounted rear Peep sight with a clearly defined front bead. This seems to help their aging eyesight.

Just my two cents.

Thanks!

Walt

For what it’s worth - I’m 75 and just had cataract surgery. I went from 20-gazillion to 20-25 or so. The improvement is staggering. One of the few things in life that ever lived up to its’ billing. Shooting is much more enjoyable and driving at night is no longer an adventure.