As I have gotten older, I wear progressive prescription glasses. Trying to find the focus spot in my glasses that allows me to focus on the front sight is becoming increasingly difficult. I look like a bobble head doll in the back of a 57 Chevy!

I asked at my last eye exam what could be done, and was told to raise and lower my head until I found the right spot. REALLY . Obviously I need to look elsewhere for some shooting glasses.

Anyone tried on of these mail order places that are advertised in shooting publications?

I have found one eye doctor that understands the problem (an old acquaintance) but he is 250 miles away.

With as many old shooters as there are out there, there has to be an easier solution.

Suggestions?

My eye doc had me hold my hand out to where I needed to focus on the front sight and made a single vision frame to focus there-works great.

I have to go to an optical surgeon, rather than the regular guy, as I have cancer-related issues. My progressives leave me with the same issues.

He suggests shooting glasses, but then we talked about the circumstances. I stopped shooting for any sort of score / competition many years ago. Today it is range fun and SD. So special shooting glasses are fine for the range, but if I get used to shooting in them, I'm blind with the regular lenses and my carry firearms. So I have just decided to learn how I have to aim to do the best I can with regular lenses, lest I fail horribly when it is most important.

I've added bright sight paints and night-sights that can't be missed. And worked with what I've got

There is an eye doctor (I don't know the proper term for his specialty) that specializes in corrective lenses for shooters. Sorry but his name escapes me. I came across his name when go ogling prescription shooting glasses. I did buy some single vision reading glasses that helped my right eye focus at front sight distance. I also sometimes use my prescription safety glasses that have the bifocal cut in upper part of lenses (can focus on front sight with head tipped down only slightly) . These were originally suggested for me to use in my work as a mechanic (ever try to focus on something above your head when you're upside down with head under the dash?). They work to an extent, and probably would better if the focal distance was fine tuned. Going back for eye exam I am sure he's gonna tell me I have cataracts

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Jim in Iowa

Maybe its time to move up to something like this:

Dr. Norman Wong O.D. has written extensively about glasses for shooters (especially bullseye shooting).

Look for: Dr. Norman Wong Articles as posted to the Bullseye List

He has one article on what optometrists should know when dealing with shooter's needs. I showed the article to my eye doctor. He gave it a quick look and came up with a prescription for pistol sights (iron front sight) held at arms length. The lenses helped a lot but but I think it could be refined some more. I got a different script for shooting Service Rifle.

Been wearing prescription glasses 65 years now and went to bifocals about 20 years ago and I have found no problem with my shooting.

When they had me switch to bifocals they tried their best to get me into progressive lenses. They could make more money and they knew my health coverage paid for those glasses.

Begin I was both a shooter and a welder I wanted lenses that clearly showed so I knew exactly what prescription I was looking through.

That my story and Im sticking to it!

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14 S&W Revs none with locks!

I just can't wear the progressives. Have no problems with the traditional 'lined' bifocals.

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Georgia On My Mind

My problem is when the front sight is in total focus the 25yd bull is a complete blur. I use a Millet Red Dot on my K38 for league and a sight similar to the one cowart uses on a G21.

For general plinking I use a pair of 1.5x reading glasses which kind of focuses the front sight and I can still see the target out to about 40yds.

Any good optometrist or ophthalmologist ought to be able to determine what your proper shooting lens prescription is. The distance you need is determined by the range of focus you need from your eye to the front sight. Sharpness falls off markedly in front of, and behind the front sight. The target and front sight can't both be in focus at the same time, so you have to opt for front sight clarity.

If you want to, ask your eye professional if you can bring an empty handgun with you, and measure the actual distance from eye to front sight. They have all types of measuring devices to accomplish this. You could also do it at home before going. A yard stick or tape measure will work. Once you know the distance, it's only a matter of using the optical equipment to determine the prescription.

Just sitting at the equipment isn't going to work, since your shooting stance isn't the same as sitting in the exam chair.

You may need a pair of single-vision glasses. I tried progressives for years, and ended up buying a pair of Randolph Engineering Ranger XLW with a lens insert. In Texas, there's a company, Texas Shooter's Optics, that is very experienced in shooting glasses.

Texas Shooter's Optical

When I first asked my Optometrist about this, he asked to bring in my gun, unloaded of course, and he would work from there. I have done this a couple times to fine tune my prescription as things change with age, unfortunately. I just take it in in a Performance Center lockable case, no one is the wiser.

He says he works with a lot of shooters to obtain optimal results, a lot of them are shotgun competitors.

Then I just have the right lens fit to the front sight solution, and the left normal. I also put bifocal grind in them to be able to see up close while I have them on. Most of the time I wear progressive lenses for non shooting use.

Oh, yeah. Ask for safety frames. They are much cheaper than normal frames, but not quite as chic as designer frames.

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Richard Gillespie
FBINA 102

I wear progressive lens, and I just tilt my head back so I can focus on that front sight. It's not natural or comfortable, but that's the only way I can focus on the front sight.

I tried in vain to get bifocals for shooting. I do shoot often both pistol and rifle iron. Progressive lenses and practice did it for me. Glasses are a real PITA, but I got it worked out.
Keep in mind that if you need your pistol, you won't be wearing specialized target specs.

I have an eye doc that's willing to work with me. I got some polycarbonate glasses where the right eye (my master) focused out at front sight distance and the left at far distance. They work great outdoors. Normally m-f 8-5 I wear contacts that are the same way. That way I don't need readers. I don't have any trouble adopting to this odd prescription though my doc was hesitant at first.

My problem is low light. With the pupil dialated I have trouble seeing accurately no matter the lens. I joined an outside range and given up shooting indoors anymore.

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Semper Vigilantes

The NRA Shooting Sports USA Vol. 22 #5 May 2009 had a feature "Winning Vision" a guide for the eye care professional. It was written by Dr. Norman Wong OD with the idea that you give it to them and it helps them help you. I was lucky my optic shop let me bring in my Fortner and the glasses I wore and used a grease pen to mark up where I looked through the lens and had the perscription off set to match. Anyway NRA may have reprints available.

Sorry for the repeat I scanned the posts too fast.

The red dot sight has kept me in competition for the last 15+ years. (I'm not really competitive any longer, but I'm still competing). For Int. Air Pistol, (required pen sights) I can just make out the front sight, but it is fuzzy.

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H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244

I measured the distance from my eyes to the front sight on a pistol, my AR, and my 18" shotgun. All were within an inch or so.
Had my eye doctor determine the prescription for a single-strength lens focusing at that distance and bought a pair with large lenses.
I mostly use them for the computer, though. I sit at about the same distance.

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John

They can change the layout of a progressive lens so that the close range prescription is on the TOP of the lens instead of the bottom. Tilting down might work better.

I started wearing a Merit Optical Attachment on my glasses in the mid 80's and never shoot without it. Keeps front sight, rear sight and target all in focus. Recommended a Merit to lots of guys and never had anyone not like the results.
Merit Optical Attachment Suction Cup

i went in for eye exam for the same thing as OP have hard time focusing on front sight . i asked if they could make me a pair of shooting glasses . they would not use the word shooting glasses they were calling them recreational glasses so that told me i was im the wrong place i am now seeking somewhere else to go

For me the glasses that work are a pair of metal framed 3x reading glasses from the drug/dollar store. The sights & target are all in focus. Guess I'm lucky my eyes are the way they are. I might add I'm almost 61.

I have a pair of shooting glasses with a 30" fixed focal length. The front sight is sharply focused, a 25 yard or 50 yard bullseye is clear, and 200 yard rifle target (and iron sights) is doable.

If I add the Merit Optical eyepiece, I can shoot iron sights at any range distance. The side benefit is that my variable rifle scopes set at 16X or higher are crystal clear with my shooting glasses. With my normal progressive lenses, I can't get a clear image in a rifle scope above 8X.

I found out the focal length I needed with my wife's assistance. I held up an unloaded 1911, sighted on a picture, and she measured from the front sight to my eyeglass frame.

I'm 67 and have used the 'shooting glasses' for about 3 years.

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S&WHF 366