Advice For Vision Changes and Shooting

[Montelores]

Hi, all -

As I've aged, my vision has become "sub-optimal."

My distance vision is still good, but now I need near-vision help.

I use 1.25 or 1.50 correction, either "readers" or glasses with that correction in the lower part of the lens with no correction above. I use a slightly weaker correction than required, because that allows me to see clearly 2 or 3 feet away for work.

I only shoot open sights, more handguns than rifles, and I've tried two variations (sights slightly blurry, target in focus, no vision correction, OR sights in focus, target blurry, using glasses for near-vision correction).

I tend to prefer 50' or 25 yards for a distance for the target. At 30', I'm pretty comfortable with my accuracy, but that's awfully close for me. A few years ago, before my hiatus from shooting, I typically used the 50 yard lane at the rifle range with handguns (for the challenge, not because I'm a super-shooter).

Can anyone offer some suggestions or experiences to help me?

I'm guessing that my vision won't be improving in the future...

Thanks to everyone -

Monty

 

[Jimbo357mag]

My shooting glasses are progressive lenses. They seem to work well for me. I nod my head a little when shooing handguns or rifles to get the front sight in focus. Most of my rifles have scopes.

 

[contender]

I too suffer from the aging eyes issue. Go get glasses,, prescription, now. Get a pair for daily wear, and then, a pair adjusted for focal length of where your front sight will be. (I used an ink pen extended from my extended hands to get a close distance. If your optometrist will allow it,, use an UNLOADED gun to allow them to get a proper measurement.

 

[Montelores]

Thanks, Jimbo.

Progressives don't work well for me, because it's really just the near-vision which is the issue.

At arm's length, the front sight is almost in focus, but the rear is a bit blurry, and I really can just make an educated guess about the top of the rear blade.

I did read somewhere about placing dark tape with a small pinhole over one's glasses, which changes the depth of field (I think?), similar to using peep sights.

I believe that there's a company which sells stick-on peep-holes for shooter's glasses.

Using a rifle (18" Henry .22LR), I performed far better than I had any right to have done.

No scopes for me, however.

Thanks for the feedback -

Monty

 

[Montelores]

Thanks, Ty.

My readers will allow me to focus on the front sight, but then the target is a blur.

Should I just use a larger target or bull's eye?

I've been using targets printed from a website on 8 1/2 x 11 paper, and I was previously comfortable with placing the shots in each quadrant of that paper at 25 yards.

Now, I can distinguish the quadrants OR focus on the front sight (with vision correction).

I just can't do both at the same time!

Thanks -

Monty

 

[Fox Mike]

A 'trick' I used when shooting competition was to roll an EAR protector up and stick it under one side of my nose piece on my glasses. It raised my progressive lenses just enough that the front sight was sharp; without having to 'tilt' my head back.

 

[Rick Courtright]

Now, I can distinguish the quadrants OR focus on the front sight (with vision correction).

I just can't do both at the same time!

Hi,

Monty, actually you never could! It just becomes a lot more apparent now as the eyes can no longer adjust fast enough back and forth between three things that you think you're seeing everything in focus simultaneously...

A device pistol shooters have used and praised for decades is the Merit device. A quick search should find it for you and explain how it works. Get one, AND follow Ty's advice to get Rx glasses "tuned" for the front site. My old optometrist was a shooter, so it was no problem to get permission to bring a test pistol into the office.

The device itself provides a tiny peep for you to look thru, increasing your depth of field, like stopping down a camera lens to a higher number f-stop. It's wonderful for those of us whose minds think we're still 21 but our bodies argue with the premise...

Rick C

 

[Pistolero]

A 'trick' I used when shooting competition was to roll an EAR protector up and stick it under one side of my nose piece on my glasses. It raised my progressive lenses just enough that the front sight was sharp; without having to 'tilt' my head back.

Great idea! I will try it.

Thank you,

 

[Montelores]

Thanks, Fox Mike and Rick, for the help.

I did find this regarding the Merit device, from the inimitable Jeff Quinn:

http://www.gunblast.com/MeritOptical.htm

I was an advocate for peep sights before my "decline," and I think that it was you, Rick, who chimed in with this information a few years ago.

I also recall reading about stick-on "peep-holes" for shooting glasses (or, alternatively, a small piece of dark tape with a tiny hole, through which one views the sights).

Ty's suggestion about the new glasses is a great idea - I've scheduled an appointment (needed anyway) for tomorrow.

You guys certainly don't disappoint!

Thanks! Monty

 

[Dave P.]

I've got a Merit and find it works well for slow fire type shooting, not at all
for "speed" events.
I have a slight correction in my shooting glasses to help see the front
sight, not enough to make it totally sharp, but sharp enough.
I tried different corrections to get a balance of ok front sight without
degrading the target too much.
My eye doc was ok bringing a gun to his office to try things.
Dave
Edit Forgot to mention...I'm a right handed shooter ( handguns ) but
have a strongly dominate left eye.
The correction is only in the left side lens and it also corrects for
mild astigmatism.

 

[Cholo]

I've used the Merit Optical Attachment for about 30 years. It makes your sights crystal clear. You have to fine a sweet spot where you're not contorting yourself to make it work. It ain't cheap, but it is good!

 

[m657]

re: "actually you never could! It just becomes a lot more apparent now as the eyes can no longer adjust fast enough back and forth between three things that you think you're seeing everything in focus simultaneously."

^^^this

And it looks like you've found an 'action plan' to help.

I too had considerable eye issues associated with the aging process, along with a couple not unusual complications (cataracts for one).

After a couple years of frustration & dismay, I went from requiring at least a red-dot sight for steel targets, to NOT needing them...usually.

One sad truth I had to admit, was my sparkling career as a 50' Bulls Eye competitor was no longer a realistic option..... :roll:

Secret for me was to restudy & relearn the 'FRONT' sight mantra and get it to cooperate with the 'sight alignment/squeeze trigger' discipline without allowing the slight barrel wobble that had crept in.

The GOOD news is : This requires MORE RANGE TIME.

 

[exavid]

I've been somewhat nearsighted most of my life. I find peep sights and red dots are a boon for folks like me. Red dots really help. I use a Burris Fastfire red dot on my .22 target pistol for Bullseye shooting. It sure helps that I only have to look at the target through the sight and position that dot on the target. No trying to focus on more than one point and that's the target. Peep sights are good in that I don't have to try to keep the rear sight aligned, the target will be a bit fuzzy but I can line up the front sight and target pretty well.

 

[Ka6otm]

The "old eyes" thing is nothing more than presbyopia, the loss of the ability of the eye to focus on close objects.

I have it, like all older people, but I don't wear bifocals or trifocals, I use mono vision. My right eye is set up for distance and my left for close up. If I want to, I can shoot using my left eye and the front sight is in sharp focus, but I've found over the years that the front sight doesn't have to be sharp, you merely have to focus on it as best you can and the target will be in even less focus.

If you CCW, I strongly advise you practice shooting with whatever glasses or not that you normally wear when walking down the street as that's what you'll have to live with if you ever get in a shooting situation.

 

[blume357]

Correct me and clear this up for me.... as long as the front sight of your weapon can be kept in focus, everything else isn't relavent , right?

 

[pruger45]

I use a Merit eye disc on my glasses. Miraculous!

 

[contender]

Blume,,, our eyes are not capable of focusing on 3 items at one time. So, we have to focus on the front sight, as the rear sight will be very close to it & not be as "fuzzy" at anything else. The target(s) are at different distances, so trying to focus on them is a hard task. Your eyes can not focus on 3 items at once. So,,,, one controllable thing is what we choose to focus on is the front sight.
But,,, all 3 are important,,, it's how you need to manage them that matters.

 

[prairieviper]

Progressive lenses work well for me but of course, like everyone else, I have to tilt my head to find that sweet spot in my glasses that allows me to see the front sight clearly. I so used to it by now that it's second nature. A better and more comfortable fix for me has been going to a red dot sight on one of my range guns (S&W 617). I have liked the red dot so much that I may some of my other guns with them.

 

[greenmtnguy]

You might find that changing to a rear peep sight, such as the One Ragged Hole, or similar design helps.
I've got some similar rear sight blades from a forum member that will swap out with the sight blades on my Blackhawks.

 

[powder smoke]

I did this about 10 years ago, made an appointment with my eye doctor and asked
what he could do for me same problem you are having focus on both sights. He told
me to bring in a hand gun and he would see what he could do.
Worked out well he made me shooting glasses and still use them to this day.
YMMV due to the doctor.

X 2 Peep rear sight helps ps