Reading glasses and scope

[cavedweller]

My wife and I both wear glasses and have some issues with using scopes for field target, and now iron sights for 10 meter shooting. She's gone to wearing contact lenses instead of her bifocals, and I am currently without glasses as I stepped on them a while back. It seems my far vision is coming back in my late 50's.
That said we are going to an optometrist group next week for eye wear specifically for shooting. First a baseline exam and then a few weeks later for glasses / lenses specific to our disciplines. I'll give me feedback after the appointments.

Hey fill me in on the process... maybe send me a text. i need to know what to tell my eye Dr. to do...

 

[cavedweller]

If you do wear glasses when shooting... make sure you buy some large lens types so you have a bigger sweet spot to find and look through when aiming.... ask for the bifocal or reader part to be either very low on the lens or really high so you can still read your parallax wheels markings. progressive lenses can be a problem because it's difficult to look through a scope exactly the same way every time... ask me how i know.

 

[Pumacarl]

^This!

Yup, and progressives are a definate loser for shooting with, couldn't agree more.

 

[SDsteph]

So here is the update. Karen is going to continue using her contacts, progressives. She will get shooting / safety glasses with a left lens that allows her to see the parallax wheels distance markings. The right lens will be a neutral lens. She shoots with her left eye closed. Not sure how and why, but this works for her.
I shoot with both eyes open so unfortunately I cannot go the same route.

 

[SDsteph]

The mechanics involved were fairly simple, but most likely hard to duplicate in an optometrist’s office.

Basically we sat as we do when shooting, sticks and bucket, and then the Dr tried to determine which lens was needed to make the parallax markings legible. Took about an hour to sort. Interesting if nothing else. Let me know if you have any questions.

 

[jlowe]

Speaking of reading glasses, I go for my first eye exam for progressives on the 15th. I hope they work. I'm 52 and have held out as long as I can.

 

[Lowndes]

So here is the update. Karen is going to continue using her contacts, progressives. She will get shooting / safety glasses with a left lens that allows her to see the parallax wheels distance markings. The right lens will be a neutral lens. She shoots with her left eye closed. Not sure how and why, but this works for her.
I shoot with both eyes open so unfortunately I cannot go the same route.

Sure you can. You don't look thru the scope with both eyes, do you??

 

[SDsteph]

Sure you can. You don't look thru the scope with both eyes, do you??

Strange but I find I shoot better with both eyes open. Mounting two scopes on a rifle is a bit tough however. LOL

 

[Solo1]

2 eyes open is recommended by most top shooters as you generally acquire target easier with left while looking thru scope with right for righties. And personally i seem to be doing best wearing readers and setting distances and scope up with them.

 

[Lowndes]

Speaking of reading glasses, I go for my first eye exam for progressives on the 15th. I hope they work. I'm 52 and have held out as long as I can.

FWIW, I went for bifocals several years back and was talked into progressive lenses. I tried for weeks to get used to them but I was always tilting my head forward and back trying to get in focus. The main selling point for progressives is they don't look like bifocals (just pure vanity).

I've found that two pair of glasses suits me fine, one pair of old-guy bifocals (with the lines) and another pair of single strength focused at 24 inches (knuckle distance) for computer screens. The lens manufacturer knows how to adjust your regular prescription for that 24" distance.

Also, FWIW, I just got a prescription and ordered two pairs of glasses at eyebuydirect. Took about a week, titanium frame and carbon fiber frame on the single strength, all the lens upgrades but tinting - $213 total for the two.

The only problem is that I look so good in the carbon fiber single strength frame they end up on my nose all day.

 

[cavedweller]

Strange but I find I shoot better with both eyes open. Mounting two scopes on a rifle is a bit tough however. LOL

theoretically the both eyes open should make you a better shot as your eye thats not behind the scope can read the wind.

 

[SDsteph]

theoretically the both eyes open should make you a better shot as your eye thats not behind the scope can read the wind.

I just find it more natural.
However, since my vision does need a little correction and I shot without corrective lenses for half the season I hope to see more details. As long as I am not overwhelmed with info

 

[Madhatter]

theoretically the both eyes open should make you a better shot as your eye thats not behind the scope can read the wind.

Chris Kyle shot with both eyes open.