For those that wear glasses

[Sheldon]

If you don't the provability that one day you wall is very high, my vision started to give me problems in my mid 40's. Our dependence on our extra eyes varies from I just need them to read to wall what wall.....

So how many of you practice with your gun at the range sans glasses other than safety? My vision will let me ID and get a nice 3 dot on the front sight, but since my 20's I have practiced the hip shot, thanks to tin cans and cow pies anyplace I look I can reliably plant a round within my 30' go no go zone.

[6shootercarry]

The latest practice at the range with my glasses has lead me to the conclusion that my glasses are old and perhaps need to be adjusted.

My right eye (dominant eye) is the one that's the issue. I can see up close no issue with that. Get about 20' to 30' out and focus on the bulls eye gets tough. I added CTC Laser grip to my carry and home defense gun for that very reason. In case I don't have them on and I need to draw and shoot the laser will help. I don't rely on it in case it goes out in a case of need.
I was told by a former US Army ranger to practice the middle finger trigger pull for point and shoot type encounters. It never felt comfortable so I opted for the laser..

Peace...

[THE DUKE OF ESSEX]

I have posted this site before on here for those of us with old eyes: Zenni Optical I use their glasses for everything and at the range I use #7002 under the search section. for single vision they cost me 25.00 + 4.95 shipping. Regular single vision glasses start at $8.00 and Bi-focal at $25.00. I currently own 10 pair of their glasses and couldn't be happier with them. No more $400.00 glasses for me!

[Red Hat]

My eyes have gone down hill for the last 10 years. I have to wear trifocals. Close up and arms length is my problem area. I have no problem seeing at a distance, over 5' to 6'. When I shoot I have a problem seeing my sights since it's in a gray zone of my vision. Too close for my reading lens and too far for my arms length lens. Thanks to the VA I get a new pair every two years and I'm due now. If I can find a cheap place on the internet to get trifocals I'd pick up an extra pair or two!

[ricbak]

My eyes have gone down hill for the last 10 years. I have to wear trifocals. Close up and arms length is my problem area. I have no problem seeing at a distance, over 5' to 6'. When I shoot I have a problem seeing my sights since it's in a gray zone of my vision. Too close for my reading lens and too far for my arms length lens......

Yup,,, Just about sums it up...

[HootmonSccy]

I have polycarbonate glasses, so I wear them when I shoot.
Here is my issue.. I can see the front sight great with my left eye (Through my glasses), but I am right handed and right eye dominant. The front sight is out of focus with my right eye with my glasses.
I can see the front site perfectly without my glasses with my right eye, but down range, not so much..
So there is no good set up for me presently.. I usually look over my glasses with my right eye and get a good sight picture and a general idea of the target. I still group well, but could group much better if I could clearly (or at least somewhat) see the target.. I can see the bulls eye OK, but I shoot in different areas of the target (Head, shoulder, wrist, etc) to monitor grouping.. Even if I have one hole started, I can't see it IF I can see my front sight.
My next pair of glasses I will make sure I explain to the doctor that I need the right eye to focus at arms length and let the left eye see farther out..

[jtg452]

How about an 'E. Occasionally' ?

Every time I go to the range? Nope. Most of the time, I don't have a non prescription set of protective eye wear with me. Have I practiced shooting sans the glasses? Yup, a fairly good bit. Since the ground is blurry at 5 1/2-6 feet, I really can't make out the sights, so I just bring it up shoulder or hip high, focus on the center of the blur I want to hit and point shoot it. The most disconcerting thing, remarkably enough, is the feeling of wind blowing directly onto my eyes from the front. It distracts me.

[Aresye]

I'll quickly chime in here, so anybody who's interested can PM me.

I started wearing glasses in 6th grade, most likely due to the fact I would stay on the computer late at night fairly often. By the time I hit high school, was vision was -2.25 in both eyes, and about 20/140 on the Snellen. Knowing that I could not get into the military rating I was interested in, I vowed I would find a way to correct my vision without glasses, contacts, or laser eye surgery. After some fumbling around for awhile, I eventually came across the Bates' Method. In about 6 months of hard, dedicated practice, I brought my uncorrected vision down from -2.25, to -1.25 in both eyes, and about 20/90 on the Snellen. I qualified for my rating, and I've been consistently performing the practice when I can. If I'm not too busy for the week, and can practice a lot, I've had my vision get as good as a consistent 20/35, with clear flashes coming and going at times of 20/20 or better. On the other hand, if I don't practice (which is mostly relaxation techniques for the eyes and mind), I can feel the strain in my eyes, and my vision will deteriorate again, but usually not worse than 20/50. My sister, who started wearing glasses the same time as me, has never tried the method. Me and her were pretty much the same diopter, same bad vision for the few years I've worn glasses. Now she's up at 20/400, and I have no doubts I would be up there as well had I not been dedicated to making this thing work.

Now, I'm a skeptical person myself, and the Bates' Method is constantly under attack by the vision industry, but it works for me, and it's worked for others. Some have improved their diopter from upwards of -11! A lot of us have experienced clear flashes, and for some people who finally found the source of their stress, and corrected it, have had a clear flash that hasn't gone away. One of those guys used to be a frequent poster on the forum I visit, and his story is truly remarkable. IIRC he started at approx. 20/200, got stuck around the same area I'm in now, but kept his intensity in his techniques, and one day as he was driving home he had a clear flash that has never gone away. At the time he was 20/25 permanently, but still didn't drop the techniques, and instead thought how much more he could benefit from practice. Over the next year, his vision has improved from 20/25, to 20/15.

Stories like his are rare, and there's only been a handful of people who have completely cleared their vision problems. Most people do see a lot of success with the techniques, but most will struggle with the last hurdle (20/80 or better down to 20/20). People can criticize the method, or me for using the method. However I've found success with it, and regardless of the fact my vision isn't perfect, the only times I need to wear glasses is when required by law.

If anybody is interested, please PM me. There is no cost to the Bates' method, although a lot of websites offering "kits" are using his name to rip people off. I have a link to some great sites, along with a friendly forum where people can discuss techniques, and what has and has not worked for them.

[Sheldon]

Well you guys know the rule of thumb, you will shoot as you practice in a crisis...

So when at the range if you practice Mozambique, do the failure drills, tactical reloads, move n shoot, then removing your prescription lenses should just be part of the session.

After all we can never plan on when and just how things will go wrong Fogged lenses, rain, mud, sweat, oil, finger prints, dirt, bumped head and they fall off, broke them, lens popped out, BTDT as have us all, and need to be prepared for every possible scenario that can slap us in the face, and they are the weakest link in our defense system.

[kelcarry]

Hey guys: For target shooting, "older" eyesight, poor firearm sighting, and glasses are a given, unless you go to firearm optics. IF you practice for defense, and 7yds and less is your defensive zone, it is another reason to embrace point shooting, where your hand and firearm will follow your nose and your eyes to center mass even with your old eyes a bit off focus.