Shooting glasses & prescription goggles?

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K

Kentucky Rifle

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OK. I'm admitting that I need my glasses to shoot. I thought I was fine with my regular (I forget the name) polymer glasses. But, I'm not. They fell off an end table and it caused a chip. I either need goggles that allow me to wear my glasses under them, or prescription shooting goggles. Is something like that made? I think I'd rather go the prescription goggle route, but the curved plastic kinda makes me think that they'd give me a headache. Anybody wear prescription shooting goggles?

Thanks,
Will
 
KR, the best bar none shooting glasses with a prescription are Oakleys. Check their website at www.oakley.com and check out the prescription page. Then do a lookup for dealers by zip code.

One of the big chains in Louisville, Southern or Korrect, can't recall which one, is a dealer for them. You just go in there and they can hook you up.
 
Hey Garrettwc!

Thanks for the Oakley info. I'm in Louisville, so I can just drive over and have some made. They probably have a few models I can try on to make sure I can see through them. Nice. I think I'll get yellow lenses. That way, I can use them as prescription sunglasses too. I've found that yellow lenses, for some reason, make it easier to see through the haze that plagues Louisville in the summer up to about 9000 feet. Southern Optical is out of business. It's a shame too. I didn't mind paying a little more for their great customer service. However, it seems that most people go to discount places like "Dr. Bizor". Even my mother (who is a millionaire) went to Dr. Bizor to save a couple bucks on her glasses:rolleyes: Turns out that the "kids" at the huge Dr. Bizor store left a flaw in her left lens. She took her glasses back and got the ol'-"It's within OUR tolerances" speech.<snicker>
They wouldn't replace her lens, so she ended up going to a good place anyway and having to pay MORE money.<snicker again>

Will
 
I know what you are saying about Bizer's. And if you use certain insurance plans (ones that cut into their profits) the service only gets worse.

I checked Oakley's website and it was Korrect on Dutchmans Ln that was the Oakley prescription dealer. There are a couple more independent places in the east end as well.

Just click the dealer locator link and fill in "KY" and your zip code in the form then pick "prescription eyewear" from the drop down.

Your comment about different colored lenses was right on. I always thought the color was more of a style thing, but the different colors are actually for different types of light. Again the eye doctor should be able to tell you which one is best for our area.

Post here on how you came out. I'm probably going to need some new ones this spring and I'm curious to hear how you did.
 
Garrettwc...

Dutchman's Lane is only 10 to 15 minutes from my house. I guess I spelled "Bizer" wrong.<shrug> Anyway, we both agree that it has crappy service. :)

Will
 
Are the amber lenses also supposed to cut down on glare but not light during low light vehicular operations? :confused:

Just so you know, they can't do some prescriptions. My eyes are too jacked up for Oakley to make lenses for me.

I'm going the laser route; getting new glasses every 1.5 years gets expensive.
 
Although Oakley makes a great pair of shooting glasses, you might also want to check out a line of shooting glasses that we carry called ESS. They have some excellent features (including an optional prescription insert) at a significantly lower price. They come standard with 3 different polycarbonate lenses, fully adjustable frame, and a carrying case.

Here's a link for more info:

Shooting Glasses Guide

Please let us know if you have any questions on the ESS line.
 
Are the amber lenses also supposed to cut down on glare but not light during low light vehicular operations?
Click to expand...

According to the Oakley website the VR28 (amber) lenses are to increase contrast in flat to medium light, such as on a cloudy overcast day. They are not for use in low light. Only the clear lenses mention low light usage.

You can do a search on Oakley's at Tactical Forums. There are a couple of long threads where Pat Rogers discusses lense colors and frame choices.
 
gunnersalley,

Can bi-focals and tri-focals be set in those shooting glasses? They look like they may be curved too much for that.
 
OH25Shooter,

Actually the RX inserts will accept bi's, but I'm not sure about tri's. We've got customer's who had their eyecare folks put bi-focal lenses in the RX carrier, and then go shoot away. Although I feel comfortable that we've probably got some tri-focaled customer's using them, I'm not personally aware it.

If you decide to pick up a pair of ESS from us, and find that they won't work with bi's and/or tri's as expected; we'll be glad to take the ESS back for a refund.

Nat - Thanks so much for the vote of confidence above.

Please let me know if you have any other questions or need anything regarding the ESS line.
 
Last edited:
gunners, I finally got a chance to check the link you provided earlier and I must admit you have my attention.

One thing I didn't see mentioned in the coverage of lenses was how accurately they are ground.

I know from experience in my pre-glasses days that lenses (even from major brands like Ray Ban & others) can have some distortion in them. Not unlike the parralax on a scope when the lenses aren't cut just right.

Any feedback from customers yet on this? How do the ESS glasses stack up?
 
garrettwc,

Just got my ESS glasses from gunnersalley. I have not had a chance to get the prescription lenses made yet, but I went ahead and inserted their clear "demo" lenses in the insert to see if they would be comfortable.

They are not perfect (for me). I have a big nose, I guess... but none of my sunglasses fit close enough to my face. I want zero clearance (the lenses should touch my face), which not all people want, since it leaves marks on your face.

I don't care about marks, I care that there is too much light leaking in around the periphery.

But, my Oakleys are worse, and my Gargoyles are not much better (old big wrap-around style Gargoyles, Striker lenses for Oakleys).

The ESS quality is very good, and visual correctness is part of the Z87.1 spec that they exceed. The edges of the lenses may not be as well rounded as others... too few samples for me to be sure on that one.

All that said, I have never found the "perfect" shooting glasses... but these come the closest at far and away the best price.

And, gunnersalley is a good guy to deal with.

David Row
San Diego
 
OK. I just read the link to ESS from Gunnersalley

I was impressed with their ad. and the cost. I'll be contacting them soon. Boy! I'm glad I posted and THEY replied. Now all I have to do is find my prescription. HUuum. It's with my passport because I didn't want to get stuck with broken glasses while out of the country. HUmmmm. Where DID I put my passport? Somewere in our "travel stuff".:confused:

Will
 
OH25shooter,

I wanted to follow-up and let you know that I spoke with an optometrist about the bi and tri question you posted above. According to the information that he provided (after being shown the ESS glasses and RX carrier), the RX carrier will accept both a bi or tri focaled lens.

Please let me know if you might have any other questions.
 
garrettwc,

I apologize for not responding sooner, but we were working a local gun show this weekend.

Regarding your question, customer feedback and response has been excellent. Both my partner and I shoot with the ESS, and he wears then nearly everyday as his normal sunglasses. Neither one of us has been able to detect any distortion yet. I've tried to be cognizant of it, but haven't detected any yet.

Please let me know if you might have any other questions on this line.
 
No need to apologize Gunner's. Business is business after all.

I appreciate the feedback on the glasses. If you've been looking for it and haven't noticed it yet, they are probably good to go.
 
One quick fyi about the Oakley Rx stuff. I had a pair of M-frame in the past with Rx inserts and they were great glasses. Just one minor irritation. The lense that the Rx inserts fit onto is thin around the insert on certain models. On mine, it had a tendency to crack and fail to hold the insert after a bit of use. Oakley did replace the lens and even the frames for free each time, but it's a bit of a hassle. Of course I live in So Cal, so I just drove to the Oakley HQ (fun place) and asked them to fix it. On some of the Oakley models I don't think the problem exists.
 
Just ordered a pair of ESS. I have long been a fan of Oakley, and have no problem with their CS either. I have sent back 5 frames over 13 years with no problems.

John
 
Ordered a set of ESS glasses with the RX insert yesterday. If these are as good as advertised, everyone in the family will be getting a set.

I have a pair of smoke-colored Gargoyles with inserts that have been good, but I broke one of the nosepieces on the inserts, and have been jonesing for a clear pair to complement the smoke. The timing of this thread could not have been better for me. :)
 
Just a note. This is the 2nd time I have ordered from Gunners Alley. Both times I have gotten a phone call saying my order has shipped. Thanks for the call!

John

Editied to add: I also got an email with my tracking info, I hadn't finished checking all my email when I made the post.
 
Got the ESS Glasses today. The Glasses come in a black neoprene pouch. Mine came with the dark grey lense set up. The yellow and the clear lense is wrapped in plastic inside the glasses case. The glasses case is a little bigger than the folded glasses. In the front of the case, are 2 strips material for you to store your extra lenses. It also came with a set of idiot strings so you can have your glasses hang around your neck. It also came with a No Fog Cloth, that I haven't had a chance to try yet The instructions to change the lenses were easy to follow.

The Prescription Insert came in its own pouch with 2 demo lenses installed. Installation of the insert to the glasses was fairly simple. Remove nosepiece, insert Rx insert into the middle groove of the nose piece, reinsert nosepiece. Took about 30 seconds to do. When changing lenses your told to lift the Rx insert out before removing nose piece.

I wore Oakley M-Frames for about 8 years with contacts, these feel very similar. For the price, these feel and when looking through, the same. I never wore Oakley Rx lenses in M-Frames, so I can't speak about the weight increase.

I am dropping them off either tomorrow or more likely Wednesday at my Eye Doctors to get my prescription installed in the insert. If I have tomorrow off, I will try them at the range with contacts on.

John
 
Received my ESS glasses on Saturday and got prescription lenses for the inserts that afternoon. The demo lenses, and therefore my prescription lenses, are wide enough that the outside edges contact the curved surface of the polycarbonate. This causes the inserts to lie at an imperfect angle when mounted.

I thought at first that this was causing some odd distortions, but I eventually figured that was just looking through the thickness of the polycarbonate just on the other side of the insert.

I had the same issue with my Gargoyles when I got them, and I quickly got used to it. By the end of the day, I was used to the ESS glasses, too.

I may have the optics place grind off a couple mm's from each outside edge to allow the inserts to lay flatter.

I am very impressed with the ESS system. Good value.
 
Series 70,

I wanted to follow-up and see if you ever got your ESS RX carrier ground down? If so, did that take care of the distortion issue that you were experiencing?
 
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