Sights and corrective lens

[222]

Today my eye Dr had me try contacts. I'm 46 with bifolcals so the Dr has me seeing near with my left eye and far with my right eye. I'm right handed. The only guns with iron sights I have tried was Lyman GPR 32" barrel and front sight was focused great and rear was fuzzy (planning on a peep on rifle). Tonight I picked up my 1911 and all was fuzzy is this the curse of aging or have you found a solution?

[sgtt]

The human eye can only focus in one focal plane.  The situation of the front sight being clear and the rear fuzzy is as it should be.  I have a pair of shooting lenses that have the top half corrected to focus at front sight length.  Baxically the bifocol is on top.  It works pretty well.  There are also some devices sold through compitition sources that attach to the lens and are adjustable.

[222]

I gave up on contacts, vision was driving me crazy and no way could I shoot a handgun. My arms are too short whole gun was very fuzzy. Back to progessive lens in glasses. Not best but doable. Thanks

[guzzijohn]

A business person I had some dealings with is an avid collector of western stuff. He built a new house and invited me over to check it out. He had a number of antique percussion and flint lock rifles displayed. I noticed that some of the rifle's rear sites were quite a ways up the barrel. I commented to him about that. His response was "think about it, back at that time as the person aged he may not of been able to afford or have access to classes so they would move the site further out."
GuzziJohn

[drdougrx]

Hey all,

I do the same thing.  Strong lens in the Rt eye, weak lens for reading in the lft.  You shouldn't have problems with this and open sites if you use the strong lens in your dominant eye. 

[Old Fart]

I've learned to just guess real good ..........and know my limitations.

Kind of stinks getting old, but what the heck I still enjoy my hobby.

[drdougrx]

The only real negative I've found with "monovision" as it's called is that the crosshairs in my rifle scopes are fuzzy even after focusing the eye piece and the AO lens on some.  Aggravating mostly.

[rockbilly]

It has always amazed me that I passed a flight physical shortly before retiring from the military with 20-20 vision, four months later I was just about blind.  Today I am in trifocals.

Before I retired I was very active as a completive pistol shooter, and did fairly well in the sport, after getting saddled with glasses my pistol shooting abilities diminished greatly.  I just can’t seem to keep a tight group on the paper like I once could.  My rifle shooting has also gotten worst.  I still hunt but have to use at least a 9x scope to drop a deer at 100-150 yards.

Like someone said, you just have to live with your limitations.

[odoh]

Likewise here. Work w/what I have. Wear progressives and mount red dot sights when/where I must as a single focal plain allows for use of both eyes open ~ kinda intuitive actually. Youth is wasted on the young ~

[Blackhawk44]

By prescription, I wear bifocals, but discussing my shooting with my lensmaker about 15 years ago, he had me insert an intermediate range trifocal lens in the center of my glass' and I have never looked back.  Focused at my raised outstreched thumb, it has served well for both handgun and rifle iron sights.  Also comes in handy for my computer at work since the screen is set back from the keyboard. 

[rawhidekid]

It is always easy to spot people with bi-focals, (myself included).  The handgun comes up, then the head tilts back to see the sights.  I found that with my 10 inch TC I don't have to do this.  I had a pair of glasses made that was all the bottom lens to use with cheap scopes but they are not required for high end scopes, no suprise there!

[PA-Joe]

They do make bi-focal contacts!

[rawhidekid]

I wore hardlens contacts thirty years ago, my wife made me go back to glasses to support my son to wear his glasses.  I don't know if the new contacts have a break-in like the old ones.  I may look into it.

[drdougrx]

Bi focal contacts...tried them...they drove me crazy.  They are thicker on the outside around the rim and thinner in the center.  You need to tilt your head back to see through the outer rim...too difficult.  Driving was nuts as well....specially at night.

[rawhidekid]

Thanks for that info, saved me a couple hundred;  (price of a new contender barrel)!

[Dale53]

I wore contact lenses for years. After cataract surgery (on both eyes) it was discovered that I had glaucoma in my right (shooting eye). I went to Red Dot sights for most of my handguns and actually am "back in the game" (using my left eye). However, I recently (a couple of months ago) took delivery on the new Ruger .44 Lipsey Special. Esthetically, I CANNOT hang a Red Dot sight on this fine revolver. My dealer and good friend suggested I buy a pair of flip up glasses that you wear just like a pair of flip up sunglasses. These are clear and 1½ Power which is just right for two handed shooting. I get a really good sight picture with the Bullseye somewhat blurred. Here is a recent target shot with this combination (the .44 Lipsey Special with iron sights, the flip up glasses, standing at 25 yards):



I am really getting a kick out of this new revolver (been waiting fifty years for Ruger to make it)...

Oh, the flip up glasses are available from Champion's Choice in LaVern, Tenn (CC clip on large 1.5 power $20.00). If you shoot one handed NRA style it is recommended that you get the CC Clip on 1.0 power glasses.

Dale53

[rawhidekid]

That is dang good shooten partner!