Blunderbuss Posted March 16, 2015 Report Share Posted March 16, 2015 Bear with me! After 50 years of taking perfect eyesight for granted, age is taking its toll and I was prescribed my first pair of gigs a year ago. No big deal of course, but this is all new to me and im still getting my head around the practicalities of it and particularly how it might affect my shooting. I'd be interested to hear how others approach this. I am slightly short sighted. I don't yet need to wear them all the time and apparently its quite a mild prescription. I'm told I'm well within the legal standard to drive without, but I don't because it makes a noticeable difference, especially at night (pin sharp HD, versus ever so slightly hazy). More recently I've started to wear them more often, watching TV etc. I have tried wearing them to shoot with. They are not needed with my scoped rifles, but I have discovered they make quite a difference with my iron sighted Lee Enfield on the range. They also seem to improve my shotgun shooting (not hard) and I am resigned to the fact that corrected vision is essential from now on if I want to carry on shooting. However, they are a PITA when it rains and also when doing other activities like mountain biking, motorcycling etc. On the MTB I currently have to choose between protecting my eyes with proper safety glasses, or avoiding crashing into a tree by wearing prescription lenses! Similar issues apply re safety glasses when shooting clays and I don't particularly want to fork out for half a dozen different types of prescription glasses. I'm going to give contact lenses a try for this reason, but that won't be without its problems - my reading vision is trashed with glasses, but they are easy enough to slip off, with contacts in I'd be stuffed. Can you wear reading glasses over distance contacts? Advice from other Mr Magoos, or members of the Specsaver's gun club? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brian28 Posted March 16, 2015 Report Share Posted March 16, 2015 You can wear reading glassed whilst wearing contacts. Best trying soft disposable ones good luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scully Posted March 16, 2015 Report Share Posted March 16, 2015 I got contact lenses for the exact reason you are now considering them. Lying prone shooting my .303 through iron peep sights was very frustrating when it rained. I wear contacts all the time now and have done for years, and simply buy numerous pairs of those cheap reading glasses you can get from B&M etc. Job sorted. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blunderbuss Posted March 16, 2015 Author Report Share Posted March 16, 2015 Thanks chaps Contacts, provided I can get on with them seem like the way ahead for shooting and other outdoor stuff. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaymo Posted March 16, 2015 Report Share Posted March 16, 2015 I have prescription reading glasses for when I'm wearing my Contact Lenses. Without lenses in I dont need reading glasses Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alycidon Posted March 16, 2015 Report Share Posted March 16, 2015 I have been wearing glasses for about 10 years, initially for reading but know i wear varifocals all the time. I find I dont need them for shotgun shooting, shooting a rifle is though an issue. Looking through a scope for the first time usuallt things are slightly out of focus, so I refocus and take the shot or not as the case may be. Next time I come to take a shot same thing, scope is out of focus, so i re focus, usually back to where it was in the first place. This is without glasses. Shooting open sights then I find the front post in focus the first shot then out of focus for the rest of the detail. I tried to explain this to my optician but I dont think they fully understand, I guess I should try and shoot with glasses on or put up with it. A Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scully Posted March 16, 2015 Report Share Posted March 16, 2015 (edited) Contact lens technology has come on in leaps and bounds over the years and they are now exceedingly user friendly. There was a time when two-part sterilants and neutralisers were the norm, and if you thought you'd already done the latter when you actually hadn't, and popped one in, your eye was a burning, watering red mess before you managed to get it out . Nowadays cleansers, sterilants etc all come in one bottle and your lenses can be popped in and out whenever you feel the need. Your optician will advise which may suit you best; daily wear once and throw away or monthly etc etc. They really are wonderful things nowadays. I've swum underwater with my eyes open and slept overnight in mine no problem. Edited March 16, 2015 by Scully Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billytheghillie Posted March 16, 2015 Report Share Posted March 16, 2015 I tried contacts, and when i went to put them in i kept blinking, tried a few times but could not get them in. when i lifted my finger with contact on it to my eye i froze. Any tips how to get them in as i have been thinking about giving it another try. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welsh1 Posted March 16, 2015 Report Share Posted March 16, 2015 If your eyes are not to bad you could have numerous options with contact lenses,i have just one contact lens in my left eye as my far vision is very good, but reading is a bit blurred,with the left contact lens in my left eye can read close up but far vision is blurred, it is the other way round for my right eye.The advantage is i am left eye dominant,so with the shotgun my left eye is blurred for distance and the right eye takes over solving my dominance issue.It is quite amazing how you don't notice which eye is doing the reading or distance work and it works fine,I use a monthly disposable and the great thing of only using one is i pay half the usual price. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scully Posted March 16, 2015 Report Share Posted March 16, 2015 I tried contacts, and when i went to put them in i kept blinking, tried a few times but could not get them in. when i lifted my finger with contact on it to my eye i froze. Any tips how to get them in as i have been thinking about giving it another try. It does take a bit of practise to begin with and I could never get the hang of rolling them off a finger onto my eyeball as shown by the optician, so simply pick them up, pop one on the end of my trigger finger and place it directly on my eyeball. A cousin discovered she had 'pointed' eyeballs when she enquired about them so can't wear them! My sister had to stop wearing hers cos each time she tried to get them in she looked like she'd been bawling for hours; can't go out for the night with your mascara already running off your chin. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blunderbuss Posted March 16, 2015 Author Report Share Posted March 16, 2015 can't go out for the night with your mascara already running off your chin. Tell me about it! Absolute chuffing nightmare. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
loriusgarrulus Posted March 16, 2015 Report Share Posted March 16, 2015 I wear a broad brimmed hat to keep the rain off my glasses. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
halfbee Posted March 16, 2015 Report Share Posted March 16, 2015 If you're after contacts go and see a real optician rather than some shonky high street chain whos only trying to sell you what he needs to shift to hit his weekly target. I wouldn't buy a gun from Walmart and I wouldn't get bins from Tesco. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scully Posted March 16, 2015 Report Share Posted March 16, 2015 If you're after contacts go and see a real optician rather than some shonky high street chain whos only trying to sell you what he needs to shift to hit his weekly target. I wouldn't buy a gun from Walmart and I wouldn't get bins from Tesco. Eh? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MartynGT4 Posted March 16, 2015 Report Share Posted March 16, 2015 (edited) Been using contacts for over 10 years now and love them. They took a bit of getting used to initially, especially taking them out and only because the opticians told me the worst way to remove them (pushing them off the eyeball using the edge of the eyelid), the easiest way by far is to just pinch them straight off the surface of your eye using your finger and thumb. You'll find it a bit weird having something touch your eye at first but as long as you make sure they're nice an wet when you put them in, they'll just suck straight onto your eyeball, then a second or two later and everything comes into crisp focus. Oh and don't panic the first time you get one fold on you and lodge itself behind your eyelid, I **** myself first time it happened to me thinking I'd never see it again and that it'd be floating about behind my eye or something. The truth is its not possible to lose one like that and a few minutes of eyelid lifting and looking up and down repeatedly had the ****** reachable again. It will happen to you, it will freak you out but just stay calm and be patient because it can't go anywhere If I were to suggest going anywhere to get fitted I'd recommend Boots opticians in a heartbeat. I've been to them all and Boots are leagues ahead of the rest, mainly because they take the time to give you a proper test and you won't feel like you're being rushed out the door to meet a target. Trust me, it makes a huge difference when you're trying to get the right lenses because a poorly fitted set will put you off especially at the beginning. Don't be put off if you can't get quite comfortable with the first contacts you try though, let your optician know and be prepared to try again. When you get the right ones for you, you'll know it and you won't want to change. Edited March 16, 2015 by MartynGT4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scully Posted March 17, 2015 Report Share Posted March 17, 2015 As above. I used Boots initially but their optician is a 60 odd mile round trip for me so I eventually changed to one of the high street chains in a town much nearer, which in turn became Stephen Rowe opticians. Service is excellent as you would expect, and you can trial all manner of lenses until you find the ones that suit you the best. I apply and remove mine as above, placing directly onto the eye and removing by pinching with finger and thumb. My daughter has long fingernails and even she can apply and remove them no problem, but I find it easier to keep my nails short. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blunderbuss Posted March 17, 2015 Author Report Share Posted March 17, 2015 (edited) Thanks chaps, tons of useful info here. I've just changed to from a small independent optician, to one of the high street chains. This was mainly for convenience due to location, but also on my wife's reccomendation. I've just had my first annual check up since being prescribed glasses. My prescription hasn't changed and it was a very thorough examination. I asked him loads of questions about contacts and he was very positive, apparently I'm an ideal candidate, simple prescription and no astigmatism. I walked out with a new pair of glasses as the Mrs moaned about the look of the first pair, so she had to be there for 'style advice', and some prescription sunglasses. I did however make an appointment in a fortnight to see another optician about contacts. My plan at the moment is just to wear glasses for driving, cinema, TV etc and contacts for shooting, cycling, motorcycling etc. But who knows? If I get on with them maybe I'll ditch the glasses. For occasional use for sports etc I'm thinking daily disposables will be the best option, but I'll take advice from the optician. Thanks for all the advice Edited March 17, 2015 by Blunderbuss Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aris Posted March 17, 2015 Report Share Posted March 17, 2015 (edited) I got contacts for the same reason - i really only use them for shooting. Daily disposables. I also have a low prescription but with an astigmatism - there are contacts which correct this so if you have one, don't hesitate to try them. All I can say is - if you find them difficult at first - persevere. They are worth the effort to get used to putting them in and keeping them in. They are almost miraculous - your field of vision amazing compared to wearing glasses. I also now keep a small mirror in my shooting bag as if one slips out for whatever reason - they are difficult to get back in without one. Edited March 17, 2015 by aris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catamong Posted March 17, 2015 Report Share Posted March 17, 2015 (edited) I would also recommend Boots, you can get a free trial, I ended up with their Premium daily disposable lenses, they are very thin and once they are in, you don't know you're wearing them, they are fantastic for outdoor sports like shooting and golf. As others have said, you can wear reading glasses over the top for close up vision. Cat Edited March 17, 2015 by Catamong Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Potter Posted March 17, 2015 Report Share Posted March 17, 2015 I'm a real life Mr Mcgoo, cant see my hand in front of my face without my specs on. Flirted with contacts a good number of years ago before the daily disposables were launched. They were soft lenses but had to be taken out at night and cleaned, disinfected, rinsed and kept in a sterile solution. Got on with them but being pathologically bone idle couldn't be ***** going through that palaver so quite quickly stopped using them. Fast forward about 20 years to a couple of years ago and I was going to my local optician (not a high street one but I'm sure they are just as good - and maybe a little cheaper) for an eyetest and to order some prescription sunglasses. Whilst waiting I'm surrounded by adverts for contacts so after the eye test I explained to him what I wanted and was promptly given 5 pairs to try, well this was after he talked and watched me though putting them in and taking them out. A week later got a phone call to say he'd got some more free samples but this lot had a different type for my left eye to take into account a mild astigmatism (whatever that is). Long story a bit shorter I was on a seemingly never ending supply of freebies which only dried up after a couple of months of me wearing 2 or occasionally 3 pairs a week! I don't have a problem either putting them in or taking them out and I really only wear them for shooting, am almost religious in wearing my Pilla shooting glasses which were quite expensive and I bought the cheapest models available. They don't do a clear lens so if I need those I use a "free" pair of safety glasses I "borrowed" when I was working. One of the advantages of being short sighted was just that, without contacts in by lifting my specs I can see as if I had a magnifying glass, this ability disappears completely with the lens in. I asked the optician for a pair of reading glasses and his advice was,"get a few pairs from the £1 shop and see which strength you need, but don't tell my accountant I told you that" so that's exactly what I did. I love my lens for shooting and driving but personally for everyday use around the house I always go back to my glasses. On the clay shooting forums and in most of the clay mags there is an optometrist being talked about in hushed tones, his name is Ed Lyons and I think he is based in Wolverhampton (well someone has to be). He specialises in Sports Vision especially Shooting Sports, he is reassuringly expensive and I think an initial consultation and suite of tests last a min. of two hours. A lot of the big names currently at the top of the sport use and recommend him (as do a lot of middle rankers but who are AAA at networking). Anyone interested can't fail to see his adverts in the shooting press (well if they have they really need a white stick and a labrador). Think at my time of life I'll save my money and invest in lead in neatly packaged little tubes with a brass coloured head. Mr Potter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Breastman Posted March 18, 2015 Report Share Posted March 18, 2015 Most covered above, i'd just add that contact lenses can be put on 'back-to-front' and if you're blinking like crazy and your vision is bouncing when you are, chances are you've put it in the wrong way around. You optician should teach yout how to tell if they're the right way around (correct the lens looks like a cup, wrong looks like a bowl with a slightly turned down lip). Although your prescription sounds very mild, when you get above +/-5.00 contact lenses can be a god send Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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