Eyes getting older

[GSP7]

I have never worn glasses. But the last couple years I cant see writeing and wear reading glasses from walmart. I keep reading glasses at my shooting bench so I can see my cartrige head, primer, any pressure marks. But reading glasses dont work looking through the scope.

Supposedly Im still 20/20 at long distance in my right eye. Not sure about that.

I dont think I see as good through a scope anymore. At least cross hairs to target dot. My eyes dont focus as well or see distinction as well.

Maybe I need regular glasses. What is it like shooting with glasses any advice from you older farts?

 

[Fred Bohl]

Rick,GSP7)

You are probably suffering from what all of us older folks have:

Presbyopia: The loss of the eye's ability to change focus to see near objects. The reasons for this loss of the power of accommodation are not yet fully known. It is conventionally said to be due to the lens becoming less elastic with time. Presbyopia is associated with aging. It occurs in everyone. The first sign is often the need to hold reading material farther away. The lens of the eye and the muscle that surrounds it are like atomic clocks, slowly ticking with such precision that a person's age can be determined by measuring their ability to focus close up.

If you currently shoot without glasses when using a scope, the eyepiece of the scope will usually have sufficient range of adjustment to correct the focus on the cross hair/dot when your eye is at the correct eye relief distance. If it does not then you should check with the scope maker to see if they offer additional eyepiece correction or you may need corrective glasses.

Ty to find an understanding optometrist that will work with you on getting the needed correction at the position on the lens that you will be looking through when your eye is aligned with the scope at the point of aim. It is common to prescribe eyeglasses with progressive lenses for presbyopia sufferers. However, this type of lens tends to produce a distorted curvature and thus inappropriate correction at the normal aiming position of the eye.

I use progressive lenses for normal vision correction but have another pair of glasses that just has my astigmatism and presbyopia correction at the aiming position of the right lens and single,not bifocal or progressive) astigmatism and distance correction over the rest of the right and all of the left lens.

You could also consider a single contact lens for the aiming eye that does the presbyopia correction that you would use only when shooting. Remember that presbyopia is progressive and continues to get worse with age so that you may be changing the prescription yearly so the contact lens scheme may be more cost effective.

 

[GSP7]

Fred, thanks for your reply.

Rick

 

[shcal]

Following on with this subject but with a little different twist, I have a question about Laser eye surgery and use of rifle scope. There are several types of surgery to correct vision impairment. I currently use progressive lenses but have often thought about the benefits of laser eye surgery. Can anyone out there share their experiences, both pro and con, as a result of laser eye surgery and the resultant effects on through-the-scope vision?
Thanks, shcal.

 

[Gman]

I had lasik surgery on 12/21/06,,custom cornea), on both eyes. I was 20/20 with eyeglasses, before my surgery. My left eye is now 20/20, my right eye,dominant) is 20/50, and I have had some infections in the right. I've been going back and forth to the surgeons, and he determined the infection is NOT from the lasik surgery.,go figure) I'm 45 years old, been wearing glasses since 1st grade,near sighted) and never had an eye infection in my life, prior to my lasik surgery. I chose the most reputable surgeon who has claimed to have done over 17,000 + lasik procedures,suppossivley the most in Pennsylvania). I had the screening process at 2 of the national lasik "chains",,which were cheaper) but chose the more expensive, experienced Dr. I am now on my 3rd different prescription of eyedrops, and will return to my surgeon in another month to determine what will be done next. I am very discouraged and really wondering if I did the right thing ?

 

[Forum Boss]

GPS7,

I am near-sighted and started using glasses in my 20s, moving to contact lenses in my 30s. Generally, I find the contacts much superior for general activities. However, with shooting, one should wear eye protection, so there is no real downside to having prescription shooting glasses.

If your scope has an adjustable eyepiece--this can also be used to sharpen the focus of the reticle. With a scope such as a Leupold, it is recommended to screw the eyepiece all the way out, then screw it in slowly, in increments, with the scope aimed downrange at the white section of a target.

There are also inexpensive bifocal shooting glasses, such as the Smith & Wesson and Winchester Brand that have a magnifier section built into the bottom.,This won't solve your fuzzy reticle problem, but it might be beneficial for other readers): See: http://www.tasco-safety.com/sglasses/magnification-safety-glasses.html

You should read this article by a prescription shooting glass manufacturer,DeCot), that explains Presbyopia and the benefits of bifocal type glasses:

http://www.sportglasses.com/content/articles_hunting_03.asp

Here is another custom shooting eyeglass maker: http://www.hansenseagleeye.com/

As Fred said, one solution you might consider,if your distance vision is fine) is to wear a magnifying contact lens in the right,shooting) eye only. Wear it while you're shooting, then take it out for the drive home. It sounds crazy, but this is not much different than what the iron sights shooters do,have special frames with a single corrective lens to sharpen sight picture).

 

[overbore]

On 13 July I visited one of the top five eye surgeons in the nation who stated that there are now three types of eye corrections: replacing the lens of the eye, Lasix and glasses. He does all but suggested good glasses as the most trouble free answer to our shooting requirements.

Overbore ; age 70

 

[Fred Bohl]

Guys

I've attached a typical curve of the presbyopia loss of accommodation as a function of age. This curve shows diopters of close focus accommodation versus age.

While it looks dreadful, it is correctable. And it sure beats blind if you want to shoot!