Revisiting prescription Shooting Glasses

[Sean Gadhar]

Went in for an eye exam today, just need reading glasses (same as last time) but we talked about long focused reading glasses so I see the front bead clearly. Right at the end he say "some guys just want the right eye, and in your case you would just have an unmagnified lens on the left so you could see your far target with the left clearly and the front sight with your right clearly. Well that left me dead in the water, as I only wear reading glasses when I read fine print or thread a needle or something, I don't have the experience to even guess if that is something I'd want. . . .SO. .

Do you have long focused reading glasses for shooting?
If so
Did you do both lenses or just the one?

 

[andy52]

I wear glasses but there for distance only. even at almost 70 I don't need reading glasses. To your question I don't think long focal reading glasses will work because the target would be out of focus. Having a clear lens on your left eye wouldn't help because only your dominate eye is focused on the target.

 

[Kmcmichael]

I can use really weak reading glasses to see the front sight of a pistol, .75. I got them on Amazon. 1.00 is more common for people.
I don’t focus in the target.

 

[Henry Miles]

I use 2.0 reading glasses. I use 1.0 for shooting to see the front sight clearly. They don't affect the target enough to cause an issue but they make the front sight clearly visible, as long as I can hold my head at the right angle for the glasses. The .75 would probably work even better. I don't have any issues seeing clearly at a distance.

 

[TexasAndy]

I had some made a little over a year ago. I discussed with the Dr. what I needed and he had a pretty good solution. He took my numbers with focal distances of 12", 24" and 36" and then split the difference. It has worked pretty well for me although not ideal. I saw these the other day and it looks like it might be a solution for some folks. They come in a number of different diopter powers and they are cheap enough I may try some. The front sight is the most important item to focus on so keep that in mind.

https://www.amazon.com/Elvex-Magnification-Ballistic-Microfiber-WELRX500C-1-5KIT2/dp/B01GZ2ZI3U

 

[fleener]

I only wear cheaters for reading and up close work. I use 2.0. My eye doc gave me a prescription for shooting glasses that have .75 and 1.0. I love them. I can see the sights much better. I even got two pairs of sunglasses with this prescription in them. I now can read the dash board in my truck when driving. This prescription also makes my distance vision very sharp again.

My shooting glasses came from Decot. They have great customer support.

Fleener

 

[Don Steele]

My eyes have multiple "issues". There's a lot of things my glasses need to do to correct my vision, but Praise God...they can all be corrected and allow me to see pretty good. For shooting glasses, since 1980 I have used Decot. ( www.decot.com ). They are familiar with the issues shooters face and able to provide the best solutions possible by "adjusting" the prescription you get from your optometrist.
This is not a cheap option but for a lifelong shooter like myself, over a wide range of disciplines Decot products and services over the years have been a GREAT investment and have kept me "in the game".

 

[Kmcmichael]

My eyes have multiple "issues". There's a lot of things my glasses need to do to correct my vision, but Praise God...they can all be corrected and allow me to see pretty good. For shooting glasses, since 1980 I have used Decot. ( www.decot.com ). They are familiar with the issues shooters face and able to provide the best solutions possible by "adjusting" the prescription you get from your optometrist.
This is not a cheap option but for a lifelong shooter like myself, over a wide range of disciplines Decot products and services over the years have been a GREAT investment and have kept me "in the game".

I used Decot glasses for many years in skeet shooting. I did have a different prescription lense for pistols. It was an expensive option to get an extra pair of lenses each time. When I retired, I no longer did it. For Shotguns, I use contacts with some non prescription Decots, with pistols I use .75 reading glasses. I am hoping the muzzle loaders will not need anything.

 

[Sean Gadhar]

I had some made a little over a year ago. I discussed with the Dr. what I needed and he had a pretty good solution. He took my numbers with focal distances of 12", 24" and 36" and then split the difference. It has worked pretty well for me although not ideal. I saw these the other day and it looks like it might be a solution for some folks. They come in a number of different diopter powers and they are cheap enough I may try some. The front sight is the most important item to focus on so keep that in mind.

Amazon.com

As the Doctor explained it to me, if you need 2.0 to read fine print at 12" (me) then you will get a clear front sight at less & less magnification as the sight gets farther and farther away. . . .so maybe 1.0 for pistol & .75 for long guns. . . . . . I just ordered a pair of those amazon glasses in .75 $16 seems worth the try . . I'll take them to the range and post back here as to if I am suddenly Annie Oakley or not Thanks

 

[Kmcmichael]

Everyone is different. The average person 5’10” shooting a Glock will generally use a 1.00. I am 6’2” and generally shooting a longer pistol prefer a .75.
it would seem to me that a muzzle loader with a 44” bbl would not need special lens, but I have yet to purchase one.

 

[fleener]

Search ebay, they make safety glasses that have magnification across the whole lenses. They are relatively cheap. I bought a couple differed ones to see how I would like it with magnification. I like it enough to get a prescription and change out my Decot non prescription lenses for prescription ones. I also had them put bifocals on my shooting glasses. Not cheap but you got to see.


Fleener

 

[TexasAndy]

As the Doctor explained it to me, if you need 2.0 to read fine print at 12" (me) then you will get a clear front sight at less & less magnification as the sight gets farther and farther away. . . .so maybe 1.0 for pistol & .75 for long guns. . . . . . I just ordered a pair of those amazon glasses in .75 $16 seems worth the try . . I'll take them to the range and post back here as to if I am suddenly Annie Oakley or not Thanks

Please do! I'd love to learn about your experience.

 

[Coot]

Went in for an eye exam today, just need reading glasses (same as last time) but we talked about long focused reading glasses so I see the front bead clearly. Right at the end he say "some guys just want the right eye, and in your case you would just have an unmagnified lens on the left so you could see your far target with the left clearly and the front sight with your right clearly. Well that left me dead in the water, as I only wear reading glasses when I read fine print or thread a needle or something, I don't have the experience to even guess if that is something I'd want. . . .SO. .

Do you have long focused reading glasses for shooting?
If so
Did you do both lenses or just the one?

My shooting glasses were custom made by Dr Toller in Richmond, VA. He and his father are both competitive shooters & I found him after reading an article on eyesight & shooting that they had written for American Rifleman. He had me bring a rifle to his office & get into shooting position. He then marked the lenses while I was looking down the sights. Since I use the glasses to shoot a rifle, the optical center was placed in the upper left (I am right handed) corner of the lens - which is the part of the lens I am looking thru when shouldering a rifle. Regular glasses such as bifocals or progressives did me no good as the magnification in those glasses is in the lower center part of the lens which may as well not exist when looking down the sights. Both lenses were done that way so I can see the target from the left without shifting my head. Made a world of difference shooting iron sights. Perhaps the article (10+ years ago) can be found in the NRA archives.

 

[TFoley]

In 1978 I changed my target pistol, and, of course, the sights appeared to be different - to me - so I bought a set of Knobloch shooting glasses with just one lens - the left - as much of my serious shooting was being done with my left-hand. Forty-three years later, whenever I shoot a handgun left-handed [I'm actually ambidextrous] I wear them - they are not different to look through than they were in 1978.

When I shoot right-handed I need no lens to help me focus on the foresight, and when I'm shooting holding with both hands I keep both eyes open. I shoot a rifle either handed with both eyes open.

 

[Kansas Jake]

I had a pair of shooting glasses made with the right eye corrected to see the front sight and the left eye corrected for distance. The prescription was done by my ophthalmologist and I took it to a local optical shop to have it filled. I have good distance vision in my right eye and my left eye is better at reading distances. My left eye kept trying to be my dominant eye when looking at sights so the glasses reversed the issue. I had cataracts removed and lens implants about 15 years ago and the implants were what is called monovision with my left non dominant eye was better at reading distances and my right dominant eye was better at distance. Over the years since I've developed some astigmatism so glasses are helpful for driving and shooting. I'm happy with the solution.

 

[Hatchet-Jack]

I'm trying these out in 1.0 and a pair in 1.5. They are full lens magnification. I can see the rear and front sights. I'm liking them and they are cheap.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00KSJQC8...abc_HSNWDZ3PFQ12016N0D6V?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

 

[oldwood]

In 1982 optometrist informed me I needed 6 different lenses to function. Trifocal lenses. 39 years later ,still need same number of lenses, but with a peep sight on my rifle. Do what necessary to keep in the game..............oldwood

 

[Sean Gadhar]

I'm trying these out in 1.0 and a pair in 1.5. They are full lens magnification. I can see the rear and front sights. I'm liking them and they are cheap.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00KSJQC8...abc_HSNWDZ3PFQ12016N0D6V?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

That's what I went for in .75 let's hope they help.

 

[Sean Gadhar]

It's strange, there are such good "Optics" these days, yet I just love iron sights. I have a modern rim fire with a fantastic scope that is a literal tack driver at 50 yards. . . .and it gathers dust, while my modern rim fire with a good iron sights (peep) gets out all the time. . . . . . just something about iron sights.

 

[Stone]

Sorry to bring up an old thread but it is the most recent thread I found on this topic.

Being new to flintlock hunting, I would like some recommendations on types of "hunting" glasses. I don't wear glasses except for cheaters so I have to find something that will work for protection while hunting. I tend to fog up glasses very easily, especially when wearing a hat, wrap-around glasses with a hat is instant fog. I guess I am just a hotty!

Is it a good idea to wear yellow or copper lenses in low light conditions?

I'd like to find something that is easy to take on and off without losing them.