Just right shooting glasses, another quandary

[rpenmanparker]

Now that I have had both cataracts removed and distance lenses implanted, I am in the market for some shooting glasses. For nearly full time everyday wear, I am using some very inexpensive progressive glasses with plano top and 1.75 + add on the bottom from reading glasses.com. They even come in a photochromic model. They work great. I’m not sure if my final distance prescription will be much of anything, but I will find out In a couple of days. I should be close to 20/20 for distance without any help. I would like to have the same thing for shooting so I can see my watch, the breech of the gun and other close up stuff as well as the targets in the distance. I want true shoot g glasses for the extra protection of the side shields or wrap around lens.

So how to get a progressive prescription sunglass for clay targets maybe with the preferred vermillion lens color without spending a fortune. I have seen so many variations online, prescription wrap around colored lenses, plain wraparound colored lenses with prescription lenses clipped in behind them, prescription clear glasses with magnetically attached colored clip ons in front of them, etc., etc. Even though I only need a plano top to the lens, I don’t mind song an optician to have the glasses made.

Any opinions from you folks would be appreciated.

 

[cfullgraf]

When I was shooting competitive skeet in the 1990's, I wore contact lenses. At the time, I had distance vision but needed readers for close in but when shooting skeet, I just used plain shooting glasses.

I'm about to start shooting skeet again. I had cataract surgery several years ago with fixed focal length distance lenses installed. I plan to try with plain lenses again, but we shall see what works.

For handguns, I got some full lens reader safety glasses and I allow the target to be blurry.

For scoped rifles, I've been using safety glasses with bifocals. I adjust the scope so that I see well with the distance vision but have the reader bifocals for close work operating the rifles.

Wrap around safety glasses are reasonably priced and you can experiment with different set ups although vermillion lenses may not be available. Once you find what works, you can get a good pair of glasses made.

After thought, you can get some stick on biocal lenses. They are half moon shape but they can be cut to any size you'd like. Sporty's Pilot Shop carries them although I am sure they are available through other locations.

https://www.sportys.com/pilotshop/stick-on-reading-lenses-pair.html

 

[rpenmanparker]

When I was shooting competitive skeet in the 1990's, I wore contact lenses. At the time, I had distance vision but needed readers for close in but when shooting skeet, I just used plain shooting glasses.

I'm about to start shooting skeet again. I had cataract surgery several years ago with fixed focal length distance lenses installed. I plan to try with plain lenses again, but we shall see what works.

For handguns, I got some full lens reader safety glasses and I allow the target to be blurry.

For scoped rifles, I've been using safety glasses with bifocals. I adjust the scope so that I see well with the distance vision but have the reader bifocals for close work operating the rifles.

Wrap around safety glasses are reasonably priced and you can experiment with different set ups although vermillion lenses may not be available. Once you find what works, you can get a good pair of glasses made.

After thought, you can get some stick on biocal lenses. They are half moon shape but they can be cut to any size you'd like. Sporty's Pilot Shop carries them although I am sure they are available through other locations.

https://www.sportys.com/pilotshop/stick-on-reading-lenses-pair.html

Thanks for that link. I will look into that. I am thoroughly spoiled by Progressive lenses though and will be trying hard to acquire something with that feature. Unlike many people with presbyopia I am dissatisfied with on again, off again reading glasses. I can’t read my watch or clearly see the ammo in the chamber without the + correction. The Progressives have me spoiled into thinking all distances can be in focus all the time. I’m loath to give that up.

 

[cfullgraf]

Before cataract surgery, I was using progressives so I understand.

Not safety or shooting glasses, I recently found Eye Bobs glasses. They sell some progressive reading glasses, including sun glasses, that I have purchased for some for driving at night. They allow me to see the instruments clearly while still driving. They work for reading as well. Not cheap though.

I use the stick on reader lenses on a pair of Ray-Ban sunglasses that I use in the race car. Again, I see distance fine but can see the instruments through the readers. I set the stick on readers so that the glare shield on the dash is at the proper position so that I do not have to move my head up or down to see the instruments or distance out in front of the car. This "plan" works well for street driving or flying your airplane.

I do a bunch of fab work for my farm, I won't get into what I used for my welding and machine work.

I'm pleased with the results of my cataract surgery but it has been an adventure finding what works for all my advocations.

As an aside, my uncle had multi-focal length lenses implanted when he had cataract surgery. He likes them but they also have their issues.

 

[kudu]

Decot Hi-Wyd shooting glasses offer prescription services. It is the glasses I have been using since the early 90's. I have clear, yellow, and rose tints for everything I need. I don't need the bifocals yet on it, but I do wear contact lenses. http://www.decot.com/

 

[rpenmanparker]

Before cataract surgery, I was using progressives so I understand.

Not safety or shooting glasses, I recently found Eye Bobs glasses. They sell some progressive reading glasses, including sun glasses, that I have purchased for some for driving at night. They allow me to see the instruments clearly while still driving. They work for reading as well. Not cheap though.

I use the stick on reader lenses on a pair of Ray-Ban sunglasses that I use in the race car. Again, I see distance fine but can see the instruments through the readers. I set the stick on readers so that the glare shield on the dash is at the proper position so that I do not have to move my head up or down to see the instruments or distance out in front of the car. This "plan" works well for street driving or flying your airplane.

I do a bunch of fab work for my farm, I won't get into what I used for my welding and machine work.

I'm pleased with the results of my cataract surgery but it has been an adventure finding what works for all my advocations.

As an aside, my uncle had multi-focal length lenses planted when he had cataract surgery. he like them but they also have their issues.

Yes to the issues with multi-focal inplants. I wasn’t convinced I would have a trouble-free experience, and didn’t want to throw money at that.

 

[Rudolph31]

I’ve been wearing progressive glasses for a few years now, and like you I’ve become addicted. But I noticed my Skeet scores started to tank, and I think at least part of the problem was the glasses. You get used to moving your head to focus, and lifting your head is a sure way to miss. I now use regular shooting glasses with a stick-on bifocal. Scores have improved.

 

[rpenmanparker]

I'm leaning toward ordering a pair of the Wiley X Sabre Advanced glasses with the clear, smoke, and vermillion lenses ($70.50) and a pair of the stick on magnifying lenses to try that out as bifocals. That just may do the trick. The Wileys look like good value for the money and can be fitted with prescription progressive lenses with plano tops and magnifying bottoms later on if I decide I don't like the stick ons.

 

[kudu]

Not sure how those glasses set up on the face, remember when you are on a shotgun you have your face tilted down and are looking through the top of the glasses. That is why the Decot ones set so high on the face. When you are just standing there you look through the bottom 1/3 of the glasses but when down on the gun the top half or third is what you are looking through

 

[rpenmanparker]

Not sure how those glasses set up on the face, remember when you are on a shotgun you have your face tilted down and are looking through the top of the glasses. That is why the Decot ones set so high on the face. When you are just standing there you look through the bottom 1/3 of the glasses but when down on the gun the top half or third is what you are looking through

The stick ons can be out wherever you want them. But the idea is to place them low on the lens for close vision. They should be invisible for the shooting of the shotgun when you look through the upper part of the lens st the distant target. Remember you won’t be looking at the front sight like on a pistol. They are only there for seeing the breech, the ammo, your watch and so on.

I don’t agree the head should be tilted down with a properly fitted and mounted gun, but it wouldn’t matter anyway.

 

[kudu]

I guess I worded it wrong, your face will be down on the stock slightly and generally most shooters are looking through the upper 1/3 of shooting glasses. If you don't have your cheek down on the stock you usually don't hit too many birds. I have tried generic shooting glasses that I really could not see well because they set too low and I was looking through the edge of the top frame, they worked fine for rifle and pistol shooting though.

I didn't look up the Wiley X glasses to see how they were formed and how they fit a face.

 

[rpenmanparker]

I guess I worded it wrong, your face will be down on the stock slightly and generally most shooters are looking through the upper 1/3 of shooting glasses. If you don't have your cheek down on the stock you usually don't hit too many birds. I have tried generic shooting glasses that I really could not see well because they set too low and I was looking through the edge of the top frame, they worked fine for rifle and pistol shooting though.

I didn't look up the Wiley X glasses to see how they were formed and how they fit a face.

It is a pretty substantial, shooting-specific spectacle. I think there should be plenty of room up top for unimpeded vision. I’m just not sure I will like the old-fashioned bifocal effect with the line. Probably no big deal.

I will be traveling for a couple of weeks and can’t order anything until I return home. Anything can happen before then. Who knows? Maybe I will decide to spring for the Rx progressive lenses even though I don’t need any help with distance. I am so weak.

 

[entropy]

+1 on the Decot Hy-wyd; A caveat with those; Be sure to order polycarbonate lenses. If you do not specify them your lenses will be CR-39 plastic, which is not impact resistant like Polycarbonate (which most safeties, Rx and plano are made from) or Trivex, which is similar to impact resistance to poly, but with better optic values (Index of refraction, Abbe value).

I am buying a Randoph Engineering Sporter frame,

https://www.randolphusa.com/re-rang..._lens-features=undefined#select-frame-options

and having a trusted co-worker who I've trained (I am an optician) measure me for them. Because I have compound myopia, (very near-sighted, with astigmatism) I will have him set the OC's (Optical Centers) high and nasal, as that is how the eyes sit when shooting a shotgun or rifle. (I shoot off both shoulders; since I'm only going to be wearing them for short times, I will tolerate the induced prism caused by setting the OC's such. I will leave the multifocal out of them, I can switch to my regular glasses if I sit in the scoring chair.

What is nice about the RE Sporters is you are only paying for one set of Rx lenses; you then buy extra clip-ons, (like clip-on sunglasses for your regular glasses) in the colors you want. When it's time to change Rx's, you only need to replace one set.

Randolph has a nice wrap-around that takes an Rx insert, the Ranger XLW, the website doesn't show it, but it is available.

I'm leaning toward ordering a pair of the Wiley X Sabre Advanced glasses with the clear, smoke, and vermillion lenses ($70.50) and a pair of the stick on magnifying lenses to try that out as bifocals. That just may do the trick. The Wileys look like good value for the money and can be fitted with prescription progressive lenses with plano tops and magnifying bottoms later on if I decide I don't like the stick ons.

An excellent choice.

 

[rpenmanparker]

+1 on the Decot Hy-wyd; A caveat with those; Be sure to order polycarbonate lenses. If you do not specify them your lenses will be CR-39 plastic, which is not impact resistant like Polycarbonate (which most safeties, Rx and plano are made from) or Trivex, which is similar to impact resistance to poly, but with better optic values (Index of refraction, Abbe value).

I am buying a Randoph Engineering Sporter frame,

https://www.randolphusa.com/re-rang..._lens-features=undefined#select-frame-options

and having a trusted co-worker who I've trained (I am an optician) measure me for them. Because I have compound myopia, (very near-sighted, with astigmatism) I will have him set the OC's (Optical Centers) high and nasal, as that is how the eyes sit when shooting a shotgun or rifle. (I shoot off both shoulders; since I'm only going to be wearing them for short times, I will tolerate the induced prism caused by setting the OC's such. I will leave the multifocal out of them, I can switch to my regular glasses if I sit in the scoring chair.

What is nice about the RE Sporters is you are only paying for one set of Rx lenses; you then buy extra clip-ons, (like clip-on sunglasses for your regular glasses) in the colors you want. When it's time to change Rx's, you only need to replace one set.

Randolph has a nice wrap-around that takes an Rx insert, the Ranger XLW, the website doesn't show it, but it is available.



An excellent choice.

Even the economical Wiley frames add up to $350+ with progressive lenses. Maybe the magnifying stick ons will work for me and save me the money on the Rx lenses. I don’t really need any correction on top.