Glasses - BiFocals vs. Variable

[OldLincoln]

I tried progressive once but was still working and I couldn't see the width of the page when reading docs. Since my responsibilities was mostly that sort of thing I had to exchange them for lined bifocals. My all time favorite glasses were trifocals in an oversized aviator style frame. It was big enough to actually see everything without hindering peripheral vision and the middle power was perfect for computer work. Wife hated them though, DIL seconded so the hell with what I want and I gave in to them. My son said it's you wearing them get what you want. Shoulda listened.

[MW surveyor]

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.

Hope that this doesn't mean I'm gonna have to wear a trench coat in Texas in the summer to carry concealed. Or have to carry a Judge (eww)

[John222]

I guess I'll stick with the progressives then, but I really feel like a fool with my head tilted way back.

[muggsy]

John,
Have you taken up the topic with your eye doctor? I couldn't see the front sight in sharp focus at arms length with my original prescription and my eye doctor was able to tweak the prescription to correct the problem. Only the front sight needs to be in focus to shoot well. I can shoot within a 3" circle at seven yards with my CM9 and the CM9 is no target pistol.

[Tilos]

John222:
If you're into researching the subject there's lots of info here:

http://www.starreloaders.com/edhall/...s.html#reddotf

Tilos

[Tilos]

And for SLOW fire like bullseye target I use drugstore glasses .5 to 1.0 diopter weaker than my reading prescription.

I take a common pin with me to the store as holding a gun out at arms length while trying on glasses would get me arrested.

I use a pin that has a round head, black in color, stick it in the display at eye level, and look at it, at "front sight distance" while trying different correction powers.
Going weaker than your reading correction moves the clear sweet spot away from you.

Again, for SLOW fire, not any shooting that requires you to move with these glasses on or any multiple target stuff.

Something to try if you get dragged along for Christmas shopping.

Tilos

[Alfonse]

I use reading safety glasses

I have both, varilux type, and bifocals. I wanted some range glasses. Most of the safety glasses that were bifocals had too small of an area to view through and put my head into an unworkable position.

So, I took a variety of drug store glasses and some pistols and rifles and experimented. I found about .5 diopter less than my reading glasses gave me a good focus on the sights and I could still see the target reasonably well. It was the best compromise. It did not make my old eyes like I was young again, but I have had really enjoyable times at the range and can hit the targets again.

I hadn't gotten out any rifles with iron sights in years, but enjoy them again. I googled reading safety glasses and found some for about $12 that even fit on my big head. With these glasses, shooting my M1A without a scope is fun again. I can actually hit things with pistols again at 25 yards. I've spent $12 in far worse ways than these glasses.

[arizonite]

Trilos -- thanks for the good info!
I have worn trifocals for 35 years, and back when I was getting my airplane instrument rating glasses a couple prescriptions back were the real ticket for having the panel in sharp focus. I'll try that my next trip to the range. For some reason the sight picture of the CM9 comes up much better for me than the 3 dot system.
arizonite

[johnh]

I am in this boat too. Have been putting of bi-focals in part because of shooting, although I think I am still good enough without them. I am having trouble reading things close up mainly. I may look at progressives--sounds like some of you guys are pretty happy with them. I had not considered that option.

[Tilos]

From what I know, at about age 40-45 the lenses in your eyes become less flexable, and this restricts the ability to focus in the front site, the target, and back to the front sight, quickly.

With progressives you will be noddiing your head looking for the right spot to focus on the front sight, the target, and back.
This also becomes tiring after awhile.

For me, just looking at the front sight and excepting the rear sight and target as fuzz balls took time to learn as the "new way" to shoot slow fire.

Once I can shoot a group this way, I just move the sights to get the point of impact to the point of aim.

Tilos

[jocko]

progressives work great for me, doesn't make me look so obvious "blind" either..

[jdavis]

Many years ago before I need trifocals, I had an older friend in his 60s who was a serious NRA bullseye shooter. He used a device that looked like a jeweler's lens that attached to his glasses via an arm. He was able to adjust this arm to place the lens the proper distance from his glasses lens or piviot the lens up for normal vision. He swore by this device and was a deadly shot to prove it!

[WMD]

John222,

Are you concerned about hitting the target in a high stress situation? In other words are you carrying concealed? If that is the case, train yourself to shoot with your regular lens and without your glasses on. You may have to install a big dot site on your pistol. I wear bifoculs and know exactly what you are talking about regarding leaning your head back to see the front site. I do not see how progressives will change that for you. You will still have to lean your head back. The only advantage to progressives is you do not see the lense line in the glasses.

I put a big dot on my PM9. It took me a while to get used to shooting it. I was basically having a hard time understanding the correct site picture. I have it embedded in my little brain now however. I have also trained myself to shoot quickly with just using the regular lens in my glasses. I also train without any glasses. In a high stress situation, you are not going to have time to adjust glasses.

If you are only concerned with target shooting, see an eye doctor. HE/she will make up a lens for you specifically for shooting.

BTW, someone mentioned an optical device attached to your glasses. I do not think this is the one he was talking about but, there is such a device sold by a company called Merit. It is a diopter that attaches to your glasses with a sction cup. It is essentially a peep site that you can vary the inside diameter. I have one and have used it when shooting rifles. As you vary the diopter, the front site comes in clear as a bell. It is pretty cool how it works. I think I paid something like $60 for it. If you google Merit Optical Device, you will probably find it.

All that being said, I shoot my DCM AR15 using the iron sites with just the regular lense of my glasses. When the eye sight goes, it is hard to beat a peep site!

[John222]

John222,

Are you concerned about hitting the target in a high stress situation? In other words are you carrying concealed? If that is the case, train yourself to shoot with your regular lens and without your glasses on. You may have to install a big dot site on your pistol. I wear bifoculs and know exactly what you are talking about regarding leaning your head back to see the front site. I do not see how progressives will change that for you. You will still have to lean your head back. The only advantage to progressives is you do not see the lense line in the glasses.

I put a big dot on my PM9. It took me a while to get used to shooting it. I was basically having a hard time understanding the correct site picture. I have it embedded in my little brain now however. I have also trained myself to shoot quickly with just using the regular lens in my glasses. I also train without any glasses. In a high stress situation, you are not going to have time to adjust glasses.

If you are only concerned with target shooting, see an eye doctor. HE/she will make up a lens for you specifically for shooting.

BTW, someone mentioned an optical device attached to your glasses. I do not think this is the one he was talking about but, there is such a device sold by a company called Merit. It is a diopter that attaches to your glasses with a sction cup. It is essentially a peep site that you can vary the inside diameter. I have one and have used it when shooting rifles. As you vary the diopter, the front site comes in clear as a bell. It is pretty cool how it works. I think I paid something like $60 for it. If you google Merit Optical Device, you will probably find it.

All that being said, I shoot my DCM AR15 using the iron sites with just the regular lense of my glasses. When the eye sight goes, it is hard to beat a peep site!

The Merit Optical thing sound pretty cool, I'll check it out. And yes, I'm mostly concerned about target shooting.

Thanks

[Alfonse]

Mid fifties

The issue I have with the eye doctor solution is that my eyes keep changing as I age. So, even when I get something working, in 6 months to a year I have to change it again.

Even with progressives, there is only one spot in the glasses, or one magnification if you will, that you are shooting through. Somehow if I got off that area with mine, I would be off target significantly.

I wasn't happy with the progressive solution. With different guns, I couldn't always get my head or cheek lined up where I needed.

The cheapo reading glasses/safety reading glasses have been just the trick. I'm only out a few bucks to change magnification and I don't have to be holding my head in exactly the right spot with different firearms. And, you're not out much to try it.