Prescription Shooting /Everyday Wear Glasses

[Knotwild]

I want to get some new prescription glasses that will be for everyday wear and I would like to hear some real world experience so I spend my money wisely. I am currently looking at the Randolph Engineering Classic frames.

• I work outside everyday in dusty dirty conditions. I shoot rifle and pistol almost exclusively.
  
• I like cable temples and that is pretty much non-negotiable.
  
• Should I get progressive or bifocal?
• Best place to purchase.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Jesse Gietzen]

haven't ordered from them yet but rx-safety.com had relatively good prices and a ton of different frames.

 

[Willie]

I made a bad choice on mine. I got the progressive style bifocals and I can only see clearly thru the center portion (top to bottom). No side vision without turning my head. Had to go back to regular bifocals. Just my experience.

 

[Macropod]

I couldn't use progressive lenses so my shooting glasses for scope shooting are single vision. With my work safety glasses ate mandatory and I'm leaning towards bifocals for those. It's a pita wearing glasses but laser eye correction was ruled out due to risk. I was definitely a candidate but upon consultation with the eye specialist, I asked him why he didn't have it done... Couldn't get a straight answer so I canned the idea.

 

[DRNewcomb]

1) I used to be a "cable temples only" kind of guy but they've gotten real hard to find. I now find that with light-weight, high-index plastic lenses I don't really need the cables. The regular frames have no tendency to slip down or come off.
2) I tried and tried to accommodate to progressive lenses and thought I couldn't. I then found an optician who really knew his stuff. He suspected that I was sensitive to the base curvature of the lens and had me try once more. When I put the glasses on, there was no accommodation needed. They just worked like I'd always worn them. I've worn progressives for regular use ever since.
3) That said, they aren't particularly good for shooting, especially with my astigmatism. (Same optician told me, "For someone with your eyes, you've picked the worst hobby.") This is even more true now that I really have presbyopia. For pistol shooting I wear a mid-distance lens in a Knobloch frame so that I can see the front sight. With my astigmatism, it's important to look through the optical center of the lens. For shooting through a scope I use either my regular glasses or a pair of backup bifocals I keep if my regular ones break.

 

[rkittine]

My optometrist, the owner of Post4 Glasses and a number of guys that I shoot with warned me about bifocals for shooting. I do where progressive lenses for every day and though it too me about 6 weeks to get used to them, I purchased staring distant vision RX shooting glasses. I do not like how the Post4 fit my face though and I will be going back to Decots. The service and quality from Post4 was great and Mike, the owner was super helpful, but they just don't fit me right.

Bob

 

[bsekf]

I wear Randolph's as my everyday glasses. I do not know the model, but they do not have snap out lenses, I buy clip ons for color or sun. They do have the adjustable nose piece to move glasses up on your face and cable temples. I get the from Harold Morgan in Olean, NY, he and his son Wayne do mail order. Call them at 716-379-8773

 

[MDSpencer]

Randolph rangers

 

[Tim Singleton]

I couldn't use progressive either
Took them back and using single vision and a set of readers

 

[jds holler]

I went with a single vision lens for my shooting eye, and progressive bi-focal in my left eye. Gives me good focus for the entire lens for shooting scope, open sights, and bow. Limits my reading and close work to my left eye only. Not a problem for me since I don't have binocular vision anyway. jd

 

[Kurz]

I wear something similar to the Randolph Rangers which have interchangeable lenses. It's a holdover from the days of trap shooting.

I wear trifocals with an 8mm secondary section which gives me everything I need for shooting and adjusting a rifle. NO PROGRESSIVES! I just can't seem to get used to them so I train with the trifocals which I also wear on a daily basis and I don't seem to have any problems which can be attributed to vision. Now, wind reading, that's a different story!

Regards.

 

[powderbrake]

You generally need a different prescription for rifle vs pistol shooting, in order to focus on the front sight. If the rifle is scoped, then your normal glasses are OK
For pistol I wear Knoblochs with a prescription lens. I take my pistols to my optometrist's office and assume the proper stance, and have him hold various lenses in front of my right eye until I can clearly see my front sight. I have a lens made for that gun.

I generally wear trifocals, tried the progressive lenses, but didn't like them, useless for shooting. Sometimes I would shoot with my trifocals, using the middle lens. I have had cataract surgery recently, and went to trifocals with the top lens having no prescription, so I had to have my pistol shooting lenses remade, and they work well.

 

[BoydAllen]

When I started to need bifocals, my doctor gave me some good advice. She suggested regular bifocals, with the reading section set lower than normal. That has worked out very well for me over the years, including all of my rifle shooting which I do almost entirely from a bench. When I am shooting I am looking through the top of my lenses so the bifocal is not involved. My regular glasses have photogray lenses. Sometimes their darkening is not what I want, so the last time that I had glasses made, I had some new lenses made for my old frames.They have a light orange/gold tint, that I can wear in bright conditions without discomfort and they do a great job of enhancing contrast on dark overcast days. I have always used metal frames that are more of the aviator style, with large lenses so that I have excellent peripheral vision.

 

[MS50]

As stated above, progressives are not for everybody. The near section of a bifocal lens is available in different sizes. I have large near sections and find them easier to use. If the near section is small, you can see the transition line.

 

[danny]

I want to get some new prescription glasses that will be for everyday wear and I would like to hear some real world experience so I spend my money wisely. I am currently looking at the Randolph Engineering Classic frames.

• I work outside everyday in dusty dirty conditions. I shoot rifle and pistol almost exclusively.
  
• I like cable temples and that is pretty much non-negotiable.
  
• Should I get progressive or bifocal?
• Best place to purchase.

Thanks in advance.

You will need a different prescription for everday use, for shooting rifles (and maybe different ones for longer or shorther barrel lengths) and for handguns. Attempting to use a street prescription for shooting is pretty much a waste of time, so you might as well get shooting frames (Randolph if you want) for shooting, and everyday frames for everyday use. Randolphs are optimized for shooting and street frames are optimized for street wear.

Danny

 

[DRNewcomb]

..... I take my pistols to my optometrist's office and assume the proper stance, and have him hold various lenses in front of my right eye until I can clearly see my front sight. I have a lens made for that gun.....

It's good to have an optometrist who doesn't have a "no guns" sign on his door. My ophthalmologist has that sign even though I know he has a concealed carry permit. At one point in time or other, I've been prone with my rifle in an optical shop to get the lens optically centered where I look while in position.

If you are not astigmatic you can use stock Knobloch spherical lenses that come in 1/4 diopter steps. I'm mostly astigmatic (e.g. 2.75 diopters of cylinder), so they're of no use. I have to get lenses made.

 

[danny]

It's good to have an optometrist who doesn't have a "no guns" sign on his door. My ophthalmologist has that sign even though I know he has a concealed carry permit. At one point in time or other, I've been prone with my rifle in an optical shop to get the lens optically centered where I look while in position.

If you are not astigmatic you can use stock Knobloch spherical lenses that come in 1/4 diopter steps. I'm mostly astigmatic (e.g. 2.75 diopters of cylinder), so they're of no use. I have to get lenses made.

If you use Knoblochs, you should be able to just have the optical center coincide with the geometric center of the lens, then use the centering device (Knobloch must have one?) to center the optical center correctly. I use the Champion Super-Olympic frames. Try doing that with a Randoloh frame! I have astigmatism as well.

Danny

 

[BoydAllen]

You will need a different prescription for everday use, for shooting rifles (and maybe different ones for longer or shorther barrel lengths) and for handguns. Attempting to use a street prescription for shooting is pretty much a waste of time, so you might as well get shooting frames (Randolph if you want) for shooting, and everyday frames for everyday use. Randolphs are optimized for shooting and street frames are optimized for street wear.

Danny

Danny,
It all depends on your vision doesn't it? What may be true for one, may not for another. I am mildly nearsighted, and slightly astigmatic in my left eye. I do my computer work with no glasses, but use my bifocals for reading from books or magazines. Without my glasses my pistol's sights are sharp, and my vision beyond that is certainly sharp enough for most any pistol shooting situation. On the other hand, with my glasses on, looking through the main part of my lens (rather than the bifocal, the pistol sights are slightly soft, but not so much that I would not have confidence in my ability to hit a target. All of this is with indoor light. It would typically be better outdoors where the brighter light would improve my depth of focus.

 

[gotcha]

I want to get some new prescription glasses that will be for everyday wear and I would like to hear some real world experience so I spend my money wisely. I am currently looking at the Randolph Engineering Classic frames.

• I work outside everyday in dusty dirty conditions. I shoot rifle and pistol almost exclusively.
  
• I like cable temples and that is pretty much non-negotiable.
  
• Should I get progressive or bifocal?
• Best place to purchase.

Thanks in advance.

Since you haven't listed the vision issues you may have, see a good ophthalmologist (NOT optometrist) and one preferably a shooter. (mine is) ............... I wear clear, non-corrected safety lenses when shooting but normally wear bifocals. I simply adjust my reticle for non-corrected vision................I should add that I've also had lens implants to correct Cataracts which REALLY sharpened the front sight blade for pistol shooting. Again see an opthalmologist that shoots for a thorough examination BEFORE making a decision as you may also have vision issues not normally observed by an Optometrist.

 

[Knotwild]

I did not realize how much information I left out about my needs. Each one of your replies is extremely helpful.

I don't shoot in any competitions, it is solely for pleasure. I shoot handguns to keep in practice because I carry and it is certainly "plinking" . I love shooting and reloading for rifles. I manage a sea island on the coast for hunting and I always try to keep a rifle handy for "varmints" and for when I deer hunt. Plus I am trying to teach myself to shoot at extended ranges. It is extremely humid here and hot. I guess due to the shape of my head, cables are the only thing that works to keep my glasses from sliding down. Can't wear contacts, they irritate my eyes terribly. I am far sighted.

I see the extreme error in my choices now. I thought I could have one do it all pair of everyday glasses. The ones I am replacing are progressive and the lenses are not very tall in the vertical. So when I pick up the rifle for a snap shot on a target of opportunity, they don't work. I also find myself moving my head around trying to find that sweet spot when shooting off the bench. So, I am definitely done with progressives.

I just had a checkup with an ophthalmologist and he said I am probably two years away from cataract surgery. I am going to have to see what is available with lenses like specifying the height of the "up close" lens vs. the top portion. I am thinking I am going to need at least 2 pair of glasses.

Definitely going to re-read this tonight slowly so I can absorb it.

Thanks very much, this has been a major and eye opening help.

Jim