shooting glasses

[Jay Christopherson]

I have an older pair of WileyX shooting glasses, with orange and clear lenses. They serve well enough for shotgun and general shooting, but I hate wearing them behind my match rifle with a high magnification scope because they do affect the sight picture to some degree - even the clear lenses. Much more eye fatigue involved and I inevitably shoot more poorly with them on.

I need something new. And I need them to be exceptional. I'm not looking for an $18 dollar pair of "these work great for me" glasses. I'm looking for lenses that will work for someone with 20/20 vision and provide the *best possible*, un-corrected, distortion free image. I spend $2K on my scope, I can afford to spend money on a great pair of shooting glasses to go with it. It doesn't do me any good to buy shooting glasses at any price if I won't wear them because they affect my shooting or cause eye fatigue.

Any suggestions?

EDIT: hopefully it goes without saying that they need to be rated for shooting eye protection...

 

[JRS]

Randolph Engineering.

 

[Larryh128]

My last shooting glasses have "Solaris" lenses/coating. Spelling might be off a bit, but they are a brownish tint non glare lense that are VERY comfortable to wear. They aren't cheap, my lenses are prescription so that made them pretty pricey but they are nice. That color lenses seems to make colors much more vivid and distinct.

 

[Bluefinger]

Check out ESS glasses. I like mine.

 

[coford]

For shooting prone I really like my Decot glasses. The bridge moves so I stay centered in the lens. Mine are prescription but you can get them however you want them and in whatever color you want. Really nice people to talk with and very helpful. They know shooters and what they need.

 

[Jay Christopherson]

Has anyone tried the new Oakley Prizm series? It popped up in a search, but they seem pretty new.

BTW, thanks for the suggestions, I'm looking at them all now...

 

[Hopkins]

+1 Decot

 

[jbarnwell]

+1 on the Decots.

 

[Alex Wheeler]

I really like my Decot hi-lo rx glasses. Adjustable nose piece allows you to raise them high for the prone position.

 

[Pappy42]

Being old, fat and ugly; the only glasses that work for me in prone are the Decots with the adjustable nose piece height.

 

[bobinpa]

Just an FYI, Some of the Randolf Engineering glasses come with an adjustable nose piece also. I have the Ranger XL. Very nice glasses in my opinion. I have friends that own the Decots and they are nice too.

 

[M-61]

I am as unfamiliar with shooting glasses with regard to a rating system regarding protection as I WAS with hearing protection.
Other than preference to fit is there a number or some type of rating that one should look for?

 

[savageshooter86]

What color lenses are y'all using? For high mag scopes

 

[Alex Wheeler]

What color lenses are y'all using? For high mag scopes

My eye dr. who's father was a competitor and seems to understand what we do recommended clear lenses for long range scope use.

 

[Cort]

I don't think Decot shooting glasses are safety rated. I bought a pair several years ago and, at that time, they told me they were not. I believe a safety rating is extremely important. I now use prescription safety glasses with side shields for all shooting activity.

Cort

 

[M-61]

I don't think Decot shooting glasses are safety rated. I bought a pair several years ago and, at that time, they told me they were not. I believe a safety rating is extremely important. I now use prescription safety glasses with side shields for all shooting activity.

Cort

This is precisely why I asked the question I posted earlier.
As member Norm Matzen covered hearing protection in amazing detail I was hoping there was a member who could provide that quality and quantity of info regarding EYE protection. Color and style are meaningless to me without a guide or rating concerning some sort of decipherable system based on the degree of protection offered.

 

[Cort]

If you need glasses for vision correction already, then your optician can supply you with Z-87 rated prescription glasses with a Z-87 rated frame and detachable side shields. The cost is the same as for your normal prescription glasses. I re-use the frames and just replace the lenses as my prescription requirements change. My ophthalmologist allows me to bring my firearms to his office and sets the prescription for use with the firearm. I normally get clear lenses but have, in the past, gotten tinted lenses to see if they would help. Today, I only get the clear lenses. I think older eyes are better served with all the light one can give them. Any tint reduces light to the eye.

If your prescription is not too strong, you can buy a safety goggle that allows hanging a set of prescription lenses inside the goggle. I think ESS manufactures one of the goggle forms (http://www.esseyepro.com/). Also, industrial safety glasses are available from a variety of supply houses. I don't like the optical quality of the cheap ones so you may want to try a pair to see what works for you. Polycarbonate lenses give me a headache so I use CR-32 plastic for my prescription lenses. I "pay" a price in extra weight of the lens but don't have any headaches. Everyone's eyes are different so I recommend trying Polycarbonate lenses first and then changing to a different lens material if they don't work for you. Trivex and CR-32 are options to try.

Norman Wong is a ophthalmologist that has posted some good articles regarding glasses for shooters. His articles are posted at: http://www.starreloaders.com/edhall/nwongarts.html. Dr. Wong is a Bullseye pistol shooter so has worked with lots of shooters through the years.

I hope this helps.

Cort

 

[280man]

Decot in Airizona.

 

[JRS]

Decot = made in China. If you are going to spend that kind of money, go for the made in USA Randolph Engineering

 

[19zip]

DECOT : Classic Hy-Wyd with HY-LO Bridge / Spring Hinge Temples
Hand made in the USA

http://www.decot.com/cart/products/6/Classic%20Hy-Wyd%20with%20HY-LO%20Bridge%20/%20Spring%20Hinge%20Temples.htm


Randolph:

http://shop.randolphusa.com/xlw-frame-p5842.aspx