hunting with eyeglasses

[Tree Rat]

Originally posted by dragon rider:
One last tip - when they measure your eyes for where the progression is to begin, let them do their trick and then have them take that line down 2mm.  In my opinion the industry "standard" starts the transition too high which makes toothpicks look like logs.  Like some other things we could mention - tuning and proper fit are critical.

THAT has been the key for me and progressives. I tried them, got seasick. Tried lined and they were ok. My wife has big issues with her vision and she requires her lined version lower than std. I got another set of progressives had them set the change lower and have been golden for 5 years now.

[Jeff C]

I have been wearing progressive lenses for several years now. I also had the problem of slightly blurry vision not looking straight out. I also tried just long distance lenses but my arms weren't long enough to knock an arrow. I bought progressive lenses with a larger lense size and has help the problem alot.

[Jeff Strubberg]

Sounds like a lot of folks got progressives that weren't set up right for them.

I'm wearing progressives now after 40 years of not wearing glasses at all. They work just fine for shooting.  I've had more trouble convincing myself I had cleared the frames with the string than I have with focus on the target.

My biggest worry about hunting in glasses isn't focus or even rain.  It's reflection!  Wish there were some way to coat the outside of the lens with something a little less reflective than polished glass...

I have been wearing glasses since age 8 and I am now Medicare-eligible so a long time; bifocals for the past 15 years or so. Last year I had a pair of single vision lenses made up in a clear plastic frame for hunting. Works great, but I can't see my watch! Everything's a tradeoff.....

[Herb Calvin]

I have worning just plain ole glasses with bi's and do just fine

[Thumper Dunker]

Use whats best for you. I like bis myself.

[Shakes.602]

gringol said it all in my opinion. 15 years of being a Pencil & Paper draftsman boogered up my eyeballs, and with a Hat keeps the shine down to nothing!
 Sears offers an Anti-Reflection Coating for specifically Night Driving. Check it out! Works for me!

[TooManyHobbies]

Progressives were awful for me. I couldn't get used to them, with no peripheral vision. I did well with regular bifocals. Then I needed tri-focals due to a cataract. I said the heck with that and had the surgery done. Now after 38 years with glasses, I can see distance perfectly. Readers still needed. As mentioned above, seeing is a beautiful thing. And whether you went from not seeing well to glasses, or in my case, from glasses to seeing better, you will get used to what ever way you choose.
Since they are new to you, Bowgy, be prepared for the following:
Fogged lenses,  dirty lenses,  broken nose clips,  back of ears rubbed raw until they form to your head,  rain,  glare,  constant cleaning (when they get green in the crevices, put them in the dishwasher for a cycle). Good luck.

Oh, yeah, get the spring hinges so when you bump them, they don't bend/break. Trust me.

[bawana bowman]

I started wearing glasses 6 years ago. Started out with and still wear progressives. Was never able to shoot with them but for everything else they were great.
About a year ago started wearing single power lenses to shoot with. Things got better but still had problems focusing on target since I tend to look by turning my eyes and not my head.(with progressives they say you have to point your nose at what your wanting to see, hurts my neck to turn my head that far to the side to see target clear.)
January 30th of this year I went to contacts.
My groups at 20 to 30 yards went from 4" to 2".
I'm now shooting like I did when I was in my 20's and 30's.
Been using the excuse that the glasses were screwing up my shooting for 5 years, now the people I shoot with believe me.
Wear the contact almost exclusively now but still wear the progressives at times, have no problem switching between the two.
But I shoot better without any optics than with the glasses, even though I'm seeing a blurry target. However when I'm wearing the contacts, you'd think I was shooting with sights. Amazing what a difference they make.

[bbold]

I tried the progressive and couldn't shoot my bow. I look sideways to shoot and with the progressive I couldn't see my target. I use lined bifocals

James

[bowslinger]

I went from single vision to progressive bifocals.  I got used to wearing them but they were no fun to hunt with in rugged terrain.  Everytime I looked down I felt a little dizzy.

I finally ordered single vision glasses and prescription sunglasses for hunting and fishing, with a pair of readers or my bifocals when needed for knot tying or seeing a watch.

Had cataract surgery on both eyes over the last year and had multifocal intraoccular lenses installed (IOLs) and do not need prescription eyewear any more for the first time in 30 years! Took care of the fogging issue!

[Bladepeek]

I've been wearing progressives for 20 or so years. I have absolutely no problem with them. I got some tinted shooting glasses for shotgunning and the bifocal line drives me absolutely batty. I wear the shooting glasses for driving too, as they are the only prescription sun glasses I have. Again it drives me crazy to have to tip my head up to see something inside the car.

I think its an adaptive thing. I always wear a watch and have a pocket knife with me. If I don't nothing seems to be right. Same with my progressive grind glasses.

[Pete McMiller]

Originally posted by Bladepeek:
I think its an adaptive thing. I always wear a watch and have a pocket knife with me. If I don't nothing seems to be right.

Hahaha, that describes me also.  I'm not dressed to leave the house unless I have my pocket knife (currently a leatherman), watch, belt and handkerchief.  The only thing I have to add recently is hearing aid  :rolleyes:   My boys never 'got' why I insisted they wear a belt - now at over 30 years old they are never without one    

Back to the lenses, I also agree with you with the lined.  Anymore the only place I have lined bifocals are in my scuba mask and they drive me crazy there too.  My progressives are like not wearing bifocals at all - it's such a natural transition.

[cacciatore]

I Made the Lasik 20 d'Austria ago,best thing I ever did to my eyes,no pain no problem 20/20 since te next day.How crazy Am I been to don't do it before.No messy glasses no any thing to driver you crazy.

[dragon rider]

Originally posted by billy shipp:

Brother Paul.....thanks for your input as well. As usual, your thoughts will be greatly considered, and I just love your analogy of life and your way of getting things across. You are without a doubt the biggest hoot I've ever had the pleasure of knowing.

Thanks,Billy, I appreciate the kind words and definitely enjoy your company and your sense of humor as well.  I frequently quote your line to me in response to a question about the best hog hunting broad heads. "If you put them in the right place, it don't much matter which you use; if you don't, it don't much matter which you use."

Returning briefly to the subject at hand, if you go with the progressives, get them to move the transitional line down 2mm.  After some experimenting anyway, I've found that to be the right adjustment for me.

[JamesV]

The wife wears glasses and she went to contacs for hunting, Seems the glasses would fog up or make a shot with the sun reflecting off the lenses impossible.

[chuckbow]

worn em all my life! dont even know it!

[Cootling]

My eyes are pretty poor.  I think the amount of correction probably affects results.

I wear progressives and also have a pair of sunglasses that just correct my nearsightedness.

I hate progressives.  Seems like I don't have very good vision at any distance... but dang, I can't see anything up close without them and I seem to shoot okay with them.  I haven't tried standard bifocals due to vanity.  If I had my druthers, it would be lasik and reading glasses for close work.

[Roadkill]

trifocals here.  I find that my new frames with smaller lenses make it hard for me to look at the target, so I wear my old ones so I can see the target.  I never see my bottom two lenses.  you will adjust, just do not think about it and pick your spot