Glasses - BiFocals vs. Variable

[John222]

I currently have Varilux with is a variable or progressive lens, and I need to get a new perscription shortly. Any body here that has experience with both types of lenses, BiFocals and variable? Which is better for handgun shooting. My variables work but I have to lean my head back to find the sweat spot. Since bifocals are basically just two different lenses is it possible that there won't be a sweat spot? Or do some of you use TriFocals with the top lens customized for aiming a handgun?

[earle8888]

Yep. Progressive......although progressives take longer to get accustom to the win hands down..with trifocal progressives I
Can Properly use pistol sights....as well as scopes, etc.

[Cornhusker]

I've worn progressive lens for years and it's not that cut and dried for me. I either see the front site well or the target. One or the other will not be as sharp. I'm still able to shoot ok for self defense and not bad at the range.

[Ikeo74]

I've worn progressive lens for years and it's not that cut and dried for me. I either see the front site well or the target. One or the other will not be as sharp. I'm still able to shoot ok for self defense and not bad at the range.

Your problem is not the lenses, it's call "old age". That is normal for all of us. We can only focus on 1 or the other, not both.

[bigmacque]

I'm with cornhusker on this one. I went to progressive bifocals about five or six years ago and once I got adjusted to them I could see well enough to shoot well enough, but my days as Davy Crockett were ove..... well, okay, I never was Davy Crockett or William Tell. But my shooting is while very good, not as good as it used to be.

[TheTman]

I wear progressive bifocals, since I'm near sighted, I wear non-prescription shooting glasses that allow me to focus on the front-sight. The target is very blurry, but I just aim for the middle of the blur and that seems to do the trick.

[muggsy]

I've worn progressive lens for years and it's not that cut and dried for me. I either see the front site well or the target. One or the other will not be as sharp. I'm still able to shoot ok for self defense and not bad at the range.

Only the front sight need be in sharp focus. The rear sight and target should be a soft blur. The human eye can only focus on one object at a time. What you are experiencing is normal vision.

[muggsy]

I currently have Varilux with is a variable or progressive lens, and I need to get a new perscription shortly. Any body here that has experience with both types of lenses, BiFocals and variable? Which is better for handgun shooting. My variables work but I have to lean my head back to find the sweat spot. Since bifocals are basically just two different lenses is it possible that there won't be a sweat spot? Or do some of you use TriFocals with the top lens customized for aiming a handgun?

I've never worn anything but progressive lenses. I find them quite adequate for shooting.

[Lobo_79]

I currently have Varilux with is a variable or progressive lens, and I need to get a new perscription shortly. Any body here that has experience with both types of lenses, BiFocals and variable? Which is better for handgun shooting. My variables work but I have to lean my head back to find the sweat spot. Since bifocals are basically just two different lenses is it possible that there won't be a sweat spot? Or do some of you use TriFocals with the top lens customized for aiming a handgun?

I've shot with both types of lenses. I switched back to lined bifocals. These seem to work best. But best for what...? In reality I shoot best using one of two approaches: I peek over the top of my glasses with a perfectly clear sight picture and live with a blurry target. This works for me out to able 10-12 yards or so. Or secondly, I just roll over and use a Burris FastFire II Reflex sight and use the distance part of my glasses to see both the Red Dot and the target in good focus. The actual red dot for many Reflex sights is culminated out to about 30 feet or so and this represents optical infinity for the distance part of my glasses. The result for me is the dot's clear and so is the target.

Clearly Reflex sights are not the answer for carry guns so I default to my first technique and keep my range distance under 10 yards.

[Bawanna]

I guess we all reach a point where the Greener is gonna be the better choice over the handgun. IWB for a scattergun is gonna be a challenge though.

[Cornhusker]

Your problem is not the lenses, it's call "old age". That is normal for all of us. We can only focus on 1 or the other, not both.

Although there is truth to the age thing, Progressive lens accomplish pretty much the same thing as bifocals and trifocals without the lines, and require some getting used to. People like my wife (same age) focus at all distances without the aid of glasses. I should be so lucky.

[Barth]

I only wear contacts.
And at my age one is for close and the other far.
I've settled into close range, muscle memory, point shooting these days.
Pretty much put the end of the slide on center mass and drill the target.

My optic orange I-Dot Pros help.

But with both eyes open, the XS Systems 24/7 Express Big Dots
really make targeting a breeze.
Just a sight picture with the front big dot and open fire.
That's my new geezer targeting system - LOL!

[TriggerMan]

I've worn progressive lens for years and it's not that cut and dried for me. I either see the front site well or the target. One or the other will not be as sharp. I'm still able to shoot ok for self defense and not bad at the range.

Same experience I have although I usually wear bifocal contacts. I need good lighting to shoot my best.

[TriggerMan]

Your problem is not the lenses, it's call "old age". That is normal for all of us. We can only focus on 1 or the other, not both.

You are only supposed to focus on one..the front sight. Even 20 year olds can only focus on one near object or one distant object at the same time. They can switch quicker and usually don't need any glasses.

[TriggerMan]

I only wear contacts.
And at my age one is for close and the other far.
I've settled into close range, muscle memory, point shooting these days.
Pretty much put the end of the slide on center mass and drill the target.

My optic orange I-Dot Pros help.

But with both eyes open, the XS Systems 24/7 Express Big Dots
really make targeting a breeze.
Just a sight picture with the front big dot and open fire.
That's my new geezer targeting system - LOL!

A couple more years and I wil either shoot at the smell of paper or need a Big Dot the size of a ping pong ball. High viz yellow, of course.