Prescription Glasses

[grasscutter]

If I use my single vision ( non bi-focal ) intermediate distance glasses, the focal point will be right around 27 to 30 inches from my eyes. That's about the same distance as my arm fully extended. The sights on a pistol would be about that same distance because I'd be holding the pistol with my arms fully extended. So with my glasses on, I'd see the sights on the pistol just fine, but the target would be out of focus unless I took the glasses off. So is it more important to have the sights in focus; or is it more important to have the target in focus?

 

[AZjeff]

The front sight.

​

​

 

[Carlostrece]

The front sight.

Bingo. Seeing front sight clearly matters most, but also being able to see target matters too. Seeing the rear sight doesn't matter much. Don't worry about it if you can't see rear sight.

Also, I don't think wearing reading glasses is practical for shooting. Wear your regular daily life glasses (same as you would for driving). Regular glasses work best for me because I only try to see front sight and target. I ignore rear sight (because my eye is only able to see 2 things at a time). In spite of my bad eyesight, I was an above average pistol shooter with better than average accuracy.

I used to own pistols and rifles. Some came from factory with a white dot on front sight, or a gold plated front side, but some had a black front sight. Sometimes a small black front sight. It's difficult for bad eyes to see a black front sight, especially if it's a small sight.

If the front sight is black, degrease it with 99% alcohol on a paper towel. Wipe front sight with a part of the paper towel that has alcohol on it. Then wipe sight dry with a dry part of paper towel.

Give it a few minutes to dry (in case you didn't wipe it completely dry).

Shake the nail polish vigorously for 15 seconds. Thorough shaking is a key part of successful painting.

Paint front sight with a thin coat of a bright color of finger nail polish (white, yellow, orange, or hot pink). I had best results with vivid safety orange nail polish. If one thin coat isn't enough, then wait an 30-60 min, then add a 2nd thin coat.

Revlon and Lorreal nail polish brands work very well and are tough enough to last many years, but are expensive brands. Amazon nail polish brand is tough enough, works well enough to last years, and is low cost. If you know women who paint their nails, they can tell you of other good brands.

A bright orange front sight is easy for bad eyes to see against a light or dark background. Nail polish is tough laquer paint similar to what used to be used for autobody paint. However, Hoppes #9 gun cleaning solvent will dissolve nail polish. When cleaning gun... Keep solvent away from the painted front sight. If you accidentally get Hoppes #9 or other solvent on the painted front sight, quickly dab (don't wipe) it dry using cotton or paper towel.

I also use black nail polish to touch up scratches or chips in car parts and mobility scooter parts. I use metallic shiny silver nail polish to touch up scratched aluminum rims.

Finger nail polish is an excellent, cheap, easy to apply (without fear of overspray) touchup paint. It's a versatile tool. I have a collection of 6 colors of nail polish that I use for touchup paint on various projects.

 

[Arc]

If I use my single vision ( non bi-focal ) intermediate distance glasses, the focal point will be right around 27 to 30 inches from my eyes. That's about the same distance as my arm fully extended. The sights on a pistol would be about that same distance because I'd be holding the pistol with my arms fully extended. So with my glasses on, I'd see the sights on the pistol just fine, but the target would be out of focus unless I took the glasses off. So is it more important to have the sights in focus; or is it more important to have the target in focus?

I always wear just one contact so I can see close up and far away. Needless to say my aim isn't very good anymore.

 

[rstsco]

I switched using iron sights to Holosun EPS-CARRY-GR-MRSs. For the past 15 years, I've been using these progressive lens glasses from Amazon. They take quite a beating and hold up good. Makes it easy for me to read close or far. I've purchased a half dozen or so during this time, but the total is still less than one prescription set of glasses.

 

[shortyb]

The front sight.

​

​

All day long. In fact we teach shooters that the front sight should be clear while the target and rear sights are not as focused. Or better yet, practice your natural point of aim, so unless you are target shooting, and need the sights more, the shooting becomes more instinctual and accurate.

Funny thing about the one contact that @Arc mentioned. I had LASIK surgery almost 25 years ago and my doctor determined that each eye would do better with less correcting if they were "cut" differently, ie; left corrected for distance, right for closer up. It was weird getting used to this for about 2 weeks before my brain adapted and was able to see near to far without issue with both eyes open. I had always shot "combat" style with both eyes open except for rifle scopes, so being right handed, and right-eye dominant this worked ok for both pistol and rifle. When I had an ischemic stroke in my right eye almost 15 years ago, and lost about 75% vision in that eye, this basically killed my rifle shooting as I would close my left eye to focus on the reticle. Now, I keep both eyes open for rifle but have adapted to left handed shooting and my left eye has become my dominant eye. I still shoot pistol right handed, with both eyes open, even though my left eye is now dominant.

 

[JWC86]

I’m sorry but I’m going to disagree.

Target focus 100%

10-15 years ago I would have agreed but their has been a lot of research/testing “lately”(last 10 years) in the IPSC/USPSA competitive shooting circles and most of the top trainers are advocating to target focus rather that front site focus and as a converted target focus guy myself I understand why, you give up very little if any accuracy and gain speed.

If you disagree I understand why but don’t knock it unless you have giving it a honest try.

 

[Bottom_Feeder]

You're a perfect candidate for using red/green dot optics. I got into shooting late(ish) in life and quickly figured out that using a red dot (later Holosun's green circle-dot) made all the difference in the world.