A good grip and point shooting is your friend. I hope you're not into fine bullseye shooting, because those days are pretty much over.
My eyes aint what they used to be.
Reading is a choir without glasses, but "doable" if I hold the book away.
Distance is ok. Each eye on it's own is marginal for distance, but somehow together they make a good picture.
All my long guns are scoped.
That brings me to pistols,, just getting back into pistol shooting.
cant focus on the sights.
My understanding is lasik surgery would correct my vision for distance and I would need reading glasses?
What is the answer,, I am thinking a reflex/ red dot??
I know there those older than me struggling with this,, whats your answer ??
Red Dot. Buy a good one. I use Burris FastFire...
I had Lasik 4 years ago, it can correct most issues and depends how deep your pockets are. I had astigmatisms in both eyes which compounds your vision issues. I can now read small print and do not need glasses for the computer. Also, I have 20/20 vision for the past 4 years. I was frustrated as I do not use scopes and like you was having difficulty on the site picture focus.
I was left eye dominant and shot left handed all my life while writing and throwing a ball right handed. After Lasik I had a bad accident with my left hand. So I started shooting both pistols and rifles right handed. Come to find out I was just as good. After I healed I built up my strength in my left hand and now shoot with either hand.
If you decide on Lasik follow the doctors direction exactly. It only took about 20 minutes for the whole procedure for both eyes. About 2 hours after the operation your eyes will feel like you have sand in them (welders flash burn) it lasts for about 1-2 hours.
One thing to consider is that they can do Lasik so one eye is for distance and one is for close up. I had this done about 15 yrs ago and loved it. The past few years my reading eye has weakened where I need glasses for up close. I have considered having it done again but my Dr said wait till cataract surgery in a few years and it will be covered by insurance.
I had Lasik 4 years ago, it can correct most issues and depends how deep your pockets are. I had astigmatisms in both eyes which compounds your vision issues. I can now read small print and do not need glasses for the computer. Also, I have 20/20 vision for the past 4 years. I was frustrated as I do not use scopes and like you was having difficulty on the site picture focus.
I was left eye dominant and shot left handed all my life while writing and throwing a ball right handed. After Lasik I had a bad accident with my left hand. So I started shooting both pistols and rifles right handed. Come to find out I was just as good. After I healed I built up my strength in my left hand and now shoot with either hand.
If you decide on Lasik follow the doctors direction exactly. It only took about 20 minutes for the whole procedure for both eyes. About 2 hours after the operation your eyes will feel like you have sand in them (welders flash burn) it lasts for about 1-2 hours.
If you don't want to talk to the doc about guns you could consider saying you want lenses for working on a desktop computer. The distance is pretty much the same.
I use progressive lenses most of the time but you don't want to tip your head halfway back for 8-10 hours so I ordered a second pair with the focus where a typical screen would be. Turned out they are also perfect for pistol sights.
Red Dot. Buy a good one. I use Burris FastFire...
Harry,
So if I am reading you correctly the Lasik gave you 20/20 AND the ability to read fine print??
It was my understanding that as you age you loose the ability to "change" the focus length of your eyes. Basically the muscle that "shape" the lens get weak. And that Lasik "sets" your focal length to one set point?
I have a fake lens in my right eye,, it got messed up from multiple surgeries removing a piece of metal in my 20s. That lens is for distance.
The left eye can kinda focus close to read if I really strain it.
I am right handed in working, throwing, etc. Left handed only in righting.
I shoot pistols and long guns right handed, ALL of my long guns are scoped.
Yesterday I found if I hold my pistol right handed and "Site" left eye, the iron sights are workable.
But I still am looking for a compact factory "optics ready" like the M&P compact,,
My eyes aint what they used to be.
Reading is a choir without glasses, but "doable" if I hold the book away.
Distance is ok. Each eye on it's own is marginal for distance, but somehow together they make a good picture.
All my long guns are scoped.
That brings me to pistols,, just getting back into pistol shooting.
cant focus on the sights.
My understanding is lasik surgery would correct my vision for distance and I would need reading glasses?
What is the answer,, I am thinking a reflex/ red dot??
I know there those older than me struggling with this,, whats your answer ??
I have a Burris Fastfire III. Glock 19 Gen4 MOS.
I have had to return it three times.
First: the red dot got fried. A guest and I shot hundreds of rounds at the range, and the barrel and slide got so hot that it fried the unit. The dot was still there, but it was like a blurry sunburst. I returned it, and they sent me another one.
Second:
After I shot a few mags (15 round mags), the red dot disappeared. Became a paperweight. Disassembled. Replaced the battery. Again, worked for a few mags. Then, the red dot disappeared. They said bad connections. Said they fixed it. When I received it, same problem.
Third:
I sent it back a third time, b/c of same issues. This time, they returned in within a day of receiving it. Same damn problems. This annoyed me.
When I called them, they asked me whether I was tightening to 12 inch-pounds. Although I did not notice in any of their literature, you are apparently supposed to treat it like a sensitive, snowflake of a red dot.
I bought a damn torque wrench, and now it works fine. However, it should not be that damn delicate.
A LONG way of saying that you should spend the money for a better red dot.
Its worked fine ever since. Nothing wrong for the money spent. You can’t begrudge use of a torque wrench. Its part of the design parameters.
I had an vision practitioner who didn’t want to discuss my shooting needs. I found an eye care professional who did. An he actually has a following of several shooters. Been with him or 7 years.
I guess you passed over the part where I said that the unit got FRIED! By that, I meant the the unit overheated and the dot emitting light source basically melted. Definitely NOT part od the design parameters.
If the instructions stated the part about using a torque wrench, I wouldn’t begrudge the need for a torque wrench. After the third return, I was told about it from Burris support.
In my albeit limited experience, it is my opinion that the Burris Fastfire III is a delicate flower. It does not stand up to heavy use. Your mileage may vary.
I would have told them that if they weren’t willing to help me to figure out a solution for my sporting hobby that they were refusing to provide the service I had gone in for and demanded that I not be charged for the visit.
The doc I found was all about trying to figure out a solution to a problem that she hadn’t heard of before. She spent a ton of time with me behind the prescription flipper thingy to show me what each part of the glasses would look like and listened when I described the challenge of still needing clear distance vision to shoot through a scope. She even handed me a yard stick to put up to my cheek so I could show her my head position on a rifle.
...whats your answer ??
If you use bifocals, turn them upside down. I have a coworker who does that.