Using pistol sights with eyeglasses

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GetmeoutaCT

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Hello all - need some advice from other "gentlemen of a certain age"

Being now in my late 50's I wear progressive eyeglasses - the top of each lens is for distance; the bottom is for reading.

I've noticed lately when pistol shooting that in order to get a good sight picture, I have to lift my head so that I'm looking at the sights through the bottom of my glasses. It looks silly; more to the point, it screws up my stance.

Anyone else experience this and figured out a solution?

Thanks all.
 
I quit using the sights so much for defensive shooting ! for bullseye I had a pair of glasses made with close vision in dominate eye and distant in the other !
Kevin
 
What are you focusing on, the target, the front sight blade or the rear sight notch? My last pair of new glasses has a very small area for my close up prescription (I didn't ask for them to come that way they just did and when I asked about the lack of area they told me that was the way it is done now...) but I find it easier for shooting as I do not use the reading portion to aim. I usually shoot at targets further than ten yards away so your target needs may well be different. The front sight on most of my pistols is at least 3 to 4 feet from my eyes so I do not need the close correction, only the far. I guess it would depend on the corrective power of your prescription as to how you solve your dilemma. Do you have a pair of sunglasses with only your far sighted correction?
 
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Hi GetMe. I can certainly relate to your eye issues. I've worn corrective glasses for most of my life for nearsightedness. Now that I'm in my 60s, my distance vision has improved, but I need reading glasses for up close. For shooting handguns I have found what works best for me is to wear low powered "cheater" glasses that you can buy in any drug store. Without the glasses, my target is clear but I can't see mt front sight at all. With the glasses the front sight is very clear but now the target is a little out of focus. Maybe someone else has a better solution.
 
Thanks for the replies -

Most of my pistol shooting is between 10 to 25 yards. Historically, I've focused on the front sight - I line up the sights such that the top of the front sight is aligned with the tops of the rear and just covering the target. If I can hold this picture through the trigger pull, I'll hit the bullseye at 25 yards (Glock 19 - my first gun and still my favorite pistol).

My problem now is getting the front sight to be in focus with my glasses. I can't do it unless I use the bottom half of the lenses as described in my first post. I should add that the front sight is probably two feet in front of my eyes when I shoot.

I like the cheap drugstore glasses idea. I may try that! Cheap is always good if it works.
 
I have the same problem. I have been nearsighted almost my whole life and I have progressive "trifocals" and real line-cut trifocals.

The real trifocals work best for me on rifle sights. Neither sets of glasses work well on handgun sights, unless I lean my head back.

For short range carry guns I just look over the top of the slide and it is as good as I need.

For attempting target style shooting, red dot sights work pretty dang well.
 
As we get older, our eyes don't "accomodate" as well for various distances. The muscles that control the lens within the eye weaken. (And if you've had cataract surgery, as I have, you don't have this ability at all.)

I would say to forget bifocals for pistol shooting. (The reading part is for reading distance, about a foot away.) Get a compromise prescription so that everything from arm's length (the distance to the pistol sights) to infinity (the target) is reasonably clear. This will not be perfectly sharp at either distance, but it's a tradeoff that would work.

Another suggestion would be to get an eyeglass prescription for an arm's length distance for your sighting eye (so that you see the sights clearly) and infinity for your other eye (to see the target clearly). Keeping both eyes open as you shoot, the brain would automatically merge the two images. This may take some getting used to.

In my own case, I have a bifocal prescription after the cataract surgery, but I don't use the reading part for shooting. Using the distance part, I see the target very clearly, and the pistol sights (at the 2-foot distance) are clear enough (the front sight is a little sharper than the rear sight). I don't think it matters much if the sights are a little fuzzy; the brain compensates.
 
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What I have found is there is a "Sweet Spot" on the lens where I can see the front sight in sharp focus. I believe that can be adjusted slightly when they make the lens so that it is a little higher than normal and reduces or eliminates the need to tilt your head. This is all very particular to your circumstance and build however.

I have long arms so the focal point for the front sight is further away for me and perhaps easier to accommodate. If you have short, stubby arms you may have a different requirement. The other thing I have noticed is that as my vision changes I find myself tilting my head to compensate. When the head tilting becomes bothersome I generally am in need of a new prescription.

I don't use dedicated shooting glasses....the likelihood of being able to call "timeout" in order to switch glasses during a "social encounter" are remote. I need to be able to see the sights in any circumstance, not just when I am at the range.
 
I found my shooting improved dramatically by simply wearing my reading glasses while shooting pistol.

I use my progressives for rifle shooting and had them made with the correction about 1/4" higher in the lens than normal so they would work well while prone.
 
Like anything else your eyesight ( Focal Pt ) can't be in 2 places at the same time! You have to decide if you want tight Groupes shooting slowly, or 8 in Groupes at a more rapid fire? I decided in a Defensive Situation it may very well be a Point and Shoot with little or no time to aim! Add Adrenalin and I'm shakey at best. I blacked out Rear Sight Dots ( 2 less things to align ) and painted Front Dot Fluorescent Green. I practice bringing Firearm up so it is level with Eyes and Center Mass or Bullseye and line up Green Dot with rear Notch. Although they may not be perfect I can get 6 to 8" Groupes consistently. The more I practice the tighter they get. I'm left eye dominant and fire with both Eyes open, how ever I slightly turn my Head to the right and slightly close rt Eye for easier sight aquisition.
Blinking seems to help focus too. Sounds like a lot but takes about a Second. Practice, Practice ..........!
 
I have kept my regular glasses. But I did try contacts. The contacts I ws given were a new technology (so I'm told) as of about two months ago. They are concentric rings that work well for medium and long range focus. I now use reading glasses for up close work.
There are different manufacturers so there was a bit of experimentation. I wore each ones for about a week to get a good feel.

I find it really nice to see the target and the front sight clearly and to be able to wear normal adjustable protective tinted glasses. Another benefit is watching TV. I no longer have to slouch in a funny angle to see clearly.

I do keep my glasses for lazy non-shooting days.
 
I first used safety glasses with diopter lenses. The first type I tried had dual diopter lenses with a magnifying segment at the top of the lens in addition to the "bifocal" lens at the bottom. They require you to drop your head a smidge to use the top magnifying lens for picking up the front sight, but it's much more comfortable than trying to lift your head to see out of a progressive/bifocal lens.

http://www.coleparmer.com/Category/3M_BX_Dual_Reader_Safety_Glasses/59729

I now use safety glasses with a full magnifying lens because they work better with the shotgun and rifle:

http://shop.elvex.com/c/eye-protection_bifocal-full-magnifying-safety-glasses_rx-500

Good luck, and welcome to the AARP generation! :)
 
dprice3844444 said:
next glasses purchase,put bottom script across upper section in a strip
Click to expand...
I have a set of glasses with "reading" Rx on the top and distance on bottom. Works well. They also work well for working on the computer, something I do 50%+ of the time at work.
 
I might add that transitory blurriness is often caused by the drying out of the surface of the cornea. This might result from stress, dehydration, exposure to wind, etc. Sometimes blinking helps (it distributes the tears). Also try over-the-counter lubricating eyedrops. They've done wonders for me.
 
I normally wear tri-focals (with the lines) and had my optician make me a set of lightly-tinted safety glasses with only my intermediate vision over my near vision. The intermediate vision (which is the upper portion) is just right for focusing on my front pistol sight.
 
Exactly the same problem...I have been near sighted and worn glasses since childhood to correct distance vision. Now I'm 58 and wear progressive bifocals and have to tip my head up so high to get a proper sight picture that it cricks my neck. Looks stupid, and it completely impractical. I take them off to look at the computer screen and if shooting bulls eye at the range I just live with the tilted head.

I shoot very little bulls eye....surprise! :neener:

99% of my shooting is hand gunning for SD and move-draw-shoot moving is the way I train so I have gravitated to a self taught method of point shooting. Basically I look at the "threat" and shoot to hit what I look at. Typically I'm shooting 4" groups (the size of my palm) at 21' - 30' in rapid fire move N' shoot. If I settle to using the sights I can get some pretty tight groups but generally I point shoot all of my guns now. Bulls eye I'll never be a competitor - SD style shooting I can consistently hit a coffee cup sized target that is moving while *I'm* moving without sights.

That's how I deal with old age eye sight. :evil: The bullets now go very close to where I'm looking with surprising accuracy and I just either look at the target or with newer acquisitions I use the back of the gun as a template to get alignment in a flash picture. But generally visualizing pointing my strong hand index finger at the target is way close enough.

VooDoo
 
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I agree with the posters who point out that in a "social" situation one cannot call a timeout to change one's glasses. I'm going to practice-practice-practice with my current glasses to see if I can find a reasonable solution. If not, perhaps it's time for a new prescription and/or glasses.
 
I have the same problem with my contacts. Right eye dominant and that contact is for distance. Left contact is weaker and helps with reading. It's worked great for about ten years until I started shooting again.

Can't see the sights with my right eye.
 
Not to complicate things but I'm right eye dominant (even though I'm left-handed). I used to be able to look straight ahead and keep both eyes open, but (focus issue aside), I find now that I can't do this because I see two sets of sights. I need to turn my head slightly to the left so that my right eye views the sights more straight on.

It's tough getting old; it beats the alternative, though.
 
GetmeoutaCT said:
Not to complicate things but I'm right eye dominant (even though I'm left-handed). I used to be able to look straight ahead and keep both eyes open, but (focus issue aside), I find now that I can't do this because I see two sets of sights. I need to turn my head slightly to the left so that my right eye views the sights more straight on.

It's tough getting old; it beats the alternative, though.
Click to expand...

I feel your pain on this...I'm right handed but left eye dominant. This and knowing that if I have to shoot for SD I'm not gonna have time to put on my shootin' glasses has influenced the way I train and my solutions.

Gettin' old ain't fer sissies. That's a fact. :)

VooDoo
 
Reading glasses (SAMs Club 3-pack) is a great deal. I use those cheap glasses for range shooting when I want to see the front sight clearly. I figure that most SD shooting would probably be point shooting (or at the best a flash sight pic) so I practice that regularly using my progressives.
The cheap readers have made range shooting a lot more fun for me. No more strange neck/head positions!
 
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