Trad Gang

I got my first set of glasses about 10 years ago for mild correction. Hardly ever used them. 5 years ago I got progressive for better distance and reading. I was border line for about everything.  I only used them for when I had to do a lot of reading close and reading at distance like projected stuff on the wall like PowerPoint stuff.  Up to last year I used them as needed. As needed is now most all the time unless I am just working outside or diving. Passed my driver eye exam last time around, but maybe not next time. I need new glasses.  This glasses stuff is still mind of new to me


I hunted some last year with glasses. Didn't care for the way the ground looks from a tree. Also found vision sharpness not so great in the inside and outside of the lenses.  Liked seeing detail better long distance to pick stuff out of the cover.

So I talked out all my issues and needs for work, archery, pistol shooting and so on.  The new digital progressive lenses are recommended. I would like input from anyone using them as to how they work. $$$$ so don't want to mess up.

Also looking at transition type lenses. I found out they don't work for driving well because the UV gets blocked by auto glass so they don't get darker. My eyes are quite light sensitive.  Looking at transition signature, xtractive and vantage. I think I would like the xtractive for about everything but I am concerned about them being too dark for low light hunting, climbing on the fall, walking on the dark, tracking and so on. So I wonder if I would be better with the vantage or signature. Then order single vision sunglasses online cheaper after I get my everyday ones.

Really not sure at all what to do.

I wear lined trificals.i was rifleshooting and noticed I had two images  Took off the glasses and fixed it.  Pistol was funnier, top lens at target, middle front site, bottom for rear.  Bobbed my head, and finally just used safety glasses, no corrective lens, and did well.  So i took off mt glasses for longbow.  We usually only shoot 30-40 yards, so total focus on the spot, if even fuzzy, works.  Never fooled with of the fancy stuff on lens, so not much help.

I've worn eyeglasses since the 4th grade, so they are an essential piece of equipment for me.  Also had to go to bifocals about eight years ago (no line) I have the transition point lower than "standard" as I tend to cock my head upward when I drive, which puts my line of sight into the "reading" zone.  My standard glasses have Transition lenses, which are great for all but the sunniest hunting days.  I've never had an issue with low light hunts.

I own a pair of single vision sunglasses that stay in the car and are mainly used for driving.  You are correct that Transition lenses will not darken inside your vehicle.  Not having bifocals means that I can't text or check e-mails when I drive....a good thing.

I also own a pair of bifocal, polarized sunglasses for flyfishing.  Even with the bifocals, I have a hard time tying on size 20 or smaller flies.

I use bifolcals.They do have transition lenses.
These are glasses designed for sport use like baseball basketball etc.Thier called F8s.Thier strong but not heavy and have an adjustable strap for a good fit

They have a relatively large len.Which is what I wanted in a bifocal.Thy are wraparound style.Peripheral vision is good with them.With these lenses the bifocal reading lense is really out of the way in a low position.My distance view is not comprimised.

These are pretty good looking glasses as well.Thier a flat black and grey and dont stand out in the woods etc.

I like these and thier very versatile for sports,hunting,fishing or just chilling at the pool.

I shoot well with them and dont feel any hindrance.I see well in low light or bright light with them.

Thier comfortable with rubber nose pieces and rubber ear pieces.Thier tough and can take abuse no doubt.

Todd,
Our eyes sound identical. Pm me your phone and best day(s)/times to call you, and I'll share what I know....

I have digital progressive lenses and conventional progressive lenses in the exact same frame with transitions.  I got the digital on the recommendation from a friend. He said it was like going from regular TV to high def TV.  
I can not tell a difference.  
I do wear the digital daily and have the others in my truck as a back up. I'll pull them out tomorrow and see if anything has changed since the last time I compared them.

I wear digital trifocals with transitional lenses daily. For sports I wear contact lenses and that gets rid of the ground surface looking weird, or appearing too close.

I have found that bifocals of any type will compromise shooting and hunting/hiking type activity. The range of eye movement you need will be constantly getting into the bifocal area. I just have to switch glasses or look over top to read a map, compass etc which is better than tripping over things or having half or more of the target fuzzy.

I would also consider transition type lenses a handicap for both. They do not work well when moving around in a wooded environment. Often will be too dark to see well into the shadows.

When I get new glasses I order the bifocals for everyday use, another pair of glasses with distance vision only lenses for outdoor activity and polarized sunglasses.

I've worn glasses for years. One thing I can guarantee is with progressive lenses in the field you will be picking yourself up off the ground.  They  throw off depth perception. Can't begin to tell ya how many times I've fallen not seeing the dip in the ground

I switched to contacts and use reading glasses for the close up stuff.

I wear contacts and love them. I wear reading glasses for really fine print. I never could shoot with glasses very well.

I, too, wear contacts for distance and put on a pair of reading glasses for any reading I need/want to do.  I hunted for years with glasses, but found when it got cold enough that I had to wear a heavy face mask the lenses would fog over.  Can't hit the target, if you can't see it!  :(   So, I switched to contacts.

Bill

Great info. I have been thinking about the contact but need to see if that will work after my exam.

I have a little astigmatism in my left eye that likes the mid range you get with the progressive. My right eye,  shooting eye, is better without the glasses to see computer and a pistol sight.  I do computers and close up reading many days all day but also some stuff for work outside where I need safety glasses and sun glasses.  I figure some kind of progressive to cover all that.

Some of the new progressives are a lot faster in change. Maybe they will work better hunting with light changes.

I didn't know you could have contacts on the use reading glasses.  That is a whole different set of options.

I know I had fits trying to shoot with glasses last summer and fall.  Took off almost 6 months from shooting.  That sorry of dulled my muscle memory and I have found now it is not so hard to adjust. I might just be able to shoot with glasses okay.

I can read almost as good without glasses close up right now but eye strain if I over due.  My reading perception is low but going to go up. Right now I don't have issues walking with glasses. But don't like the ground feel from 20'.

I was hoping to not have to have 3 pairs of glasses, but that might not be possible.  Maybe I can do the dark progressive and low cost Internet clear single vision to cover most everything.

Keep the info coming.  It is all helpful particularly if you have the newer type lenses and progressive technology.

Thanks I knew I could get some good info here.

QuoteOriginally posted by Bjorn:
I wear digital trifocals with transitional lenses daily. For sports I wear contact lenses and that gets rid of the ground surface looking weird, or appearing too close.

are those single vision contacts?

I wear a phakic lens on my right eye, as its lens is going walkabout, and I wear heavily tinted lenses all the time for severe photophobia.  I'm switching to prescription Oakleys so I can get peripheral vision and close fit to keep the sun from getting around them.  I can handle low light hunting just fine even with the dark lenses.  If you are getting light sensitive, you need to talk to your doctor, as it can be a sign of more serious problems.

Interesting thread for sure!

I too just started wearing progressive lenses not too long ago. Great for work....not so much for shooting. The "lens" part is right down the middle of each lens and looking to the "side" at all doesn't work. They don't work at all for me with shooting.

Went to eye Dr. and she gave me contacts. Two problems for me:

1. Could not get used to sticking them in my eye.

2. Shooting vision was "worse" with these than with nothing.

Still at square one for shooting so would love to hear what you come up with.

Please keep in mind that each of us in unique and YMMV.

My vision went south around age 40. I wore drug store readers for close up for years but as time went on it became impossible to change focus between close and far. So now I wear progressive bifocals and they work great. It took about a month for my brain to adjust and stairs almost killed me a few times but I stuck it out and it paid off. I'd say the most important thing to learn and remember is that you have to move your head and look directly at things. You can't shift your eyes up,down, or sideways much at all. That can be an issue with form.

Bifocals daily - with anti glare and transition tinting.

single vision glasses - with anti glare for hunting - no bifocal, no tinting.

Lined bifocals with very low lines for everyday and hunting. They have Transistion lenses that are only too dark toward evening in snow covered woods. I love them.

I wear progressive bifocals with the same frame for office/computer work. They do not have Transistions since I rarely wear them outside.

If I wear progressives in the woods I get very nausious and trip over everything. Forget about shooting a bow, it ain't happening.

Sounds like we all have about the issues. I've worn glasses since the 5th grade, some 57 years now. Bifocals too since 2002. I had the lined bifocals placed as low to the bottom of the lens as possible. Have some problems going down stairs but none in the woods. Even pack a 2nd pair in case of emergencies (read that carelessness. Don't like transitions.

I have the progressive transition lens. At first depth perception was off but I don't notice it at all now. I also could not shoot with them at first. Always shot high and left but now my shooting is good with them. I think after getting used to the lens you automatically learn not to look thru the sides but to face the target. I like them (as much as you can like glasses)but it took a little while

Men correct me if I'm off base but I think that one of the biggest problem with bifocal is everyone wants to wear small lenses these days, seems like the style. I chose large lenses and had no problem hunting or shooting with progressives.Seems like my larger viewing area does not go out of focus so easily. The only time I had problems was layout hunting for waterfowl when I was layed back and forced to look through my lower lense. It was all blurry so I had to get a pair of single lens glasses for this.

TTT

QuoteOriginally posted by stillhunter:
Men correct me if I'm off base but I think that one of the biggest problem with bifocal is everyone wants to wear small lenses these days, seems like the style. I chose large lenses and had no problem hunting or shooting with progressives.Seems like my larger viewing area does not go out of focus so easily. The only time I had problems was layout hunting for waterfowl when I was layed back and forced to look through my lower lense. It was all blurry so I had to get a pair of single lens glasses for this.

I think you may be on to something, I've noticed the same thing.

I've worn progressive lenses (not digital) for about the last 15 years or so. They work pretty well for me. No problems with ground or any other kind of depth perception.

Actually, they do help my bow shooting in one regard.  If I don't turn my head enough and look across my arrow rather than down it as a result, it also means I'm looking out of the edges of the prescription, and the vision is a bit blurred. That's the cue to turn my head a little more toward the target.  

I've used bifocals in the past, and much prefer progressives. I've also used transitional lenses in the past.  Maybe technology has improved a lot since then, but they were never as light as clear lenses in low light conditions (i.e., early morning and late afternoon). I just wear clip on polarized lenses for most other outdoor activities and driving.  Hunting, I don't use any darkening lenses.  Of course, I don't have an oversensitivity to light.  In fact, at my age, it's just the opposite.  I need all the light i can get.

Good luck in your search.

Well been working with  some new progressive digital glasses.  One thing I  can say is that you really want to go with larger lenses height wise if you have very high of a reading power.  I used my old frames and was told that was about as small of a lens as they recommended.  I said we could go larger if it was better, but they said it would be okay.  Well I wish I went larger.  The big issue is that my reading prescription went from a 1 to 2 and that pushed up into my lens a lot farther.  They didn't explain that would happen or I would have made different choices.  They adjusted my glasses down so  they  work fine for most stuff, but I want a larger mid range area for computer and  pistol shooting.  It is a little narrow and now kind of low.  They will remake my lenses moving the reading down more and more narrow so I can move the mid range up a bit again without having the ground and work bench vision be naturally in my reading area. I will likely have them remade my lenses now after living with them a while and figuring out what I want different.  

Peripheral vision is not too bad at all high on the lens but I tend to look lower over the bridge of my glasses in the area that is not as good for peripheral so I am struggling with a different anchor so I can get higher in the lens and a little more towards center.  I may get wider  peripheral vision with the lower reading area, but not sure on that until I get back in to talk.

I went with the transition signature and they work fine all around for me.  No issues with light and  shadow changes.  They don't get all that dark like sun glasses and transition. reasonably quick.

Because of my astigmatism contacts are kind of out as a general solution.  I would have to have one eye close range vision and one long range. That just will not work well I don't think with all I do and having to pick my dominant eye as close or far. Still thinking about that option and may give it a try.  

Right now I kind  of think distance set or distance with small reading area would be the way to go for hunting. I may try a cheap pair from Walmart or something if the new lenses don't solve a few more  issues.

xtrema,
I've worked in the eye industry since 1992 and would be glad to discuss some of options with you - too much to type here.  I'll pm you my cell number.  Jeff

I wear the no line bifocals, except for hunting, can't shoot worth a darn with them. I've got a pair that are strictly for distance I use when I hunting/shooting. From 2 feet and in things are pretty fuzzy, but beyond that I'm good.

If you mentioned it I missed it but have you had a recent eye exam (one with your eyes dilated)and discussed this with your doctor?

I wear the digital progressives (anti glare , no transitions), and it took a little getting used to and form adjustment, but I can see and shoot fine now.  I've been wearing glasses for 30 years, but this is my first year in progressives.  The tip about turning your head and looking directly at the object is spot on!

QuoteOriginally posted by Joe2Crow:
xtrema,
I've worked in the eye industry since 1992 and would be glad to discuss some of options with you - too much to type here.  I'll pm you my cell number.  Jeff

Got the PM and will give you a call.  Thanks!

QuoteOriginally posted by Jim Wright:
If you mentioned it I missed it but have you had a recent eye exam (one with your eyes dilated)and discussed this with your doctor?

Recent exam yes, but not dilated.  They said they only do that if the see an issue, and that it is more a medical level exam or some such thing.  They said my eyes looked health.

Funny...I first read this thread while sitting in my eye Dr's office.

I have worn corrective lenses since 3 rd grade. I have had contacts for something like 35 years. I HATE wearing glasses in the field. Rain, mist, fog, snow.....hate it. I do carry a spare pair of glasses in my haversack for emergencies.

For the last 2 years I have worn bifocal contacts. At first they were ok...but over time (and with some prescription change) I realize they are too much of a compromise. Far vision isn't great, and close vision suffers also.

I have decided to switch back to "distance" contacts, and use readers for close work (which is really just reading, everything with 3 feet is fine). Things at bow shooting range are crisp and clear again.

Well I cant wear contacts and I only wear readers so far but I'm getting closer to needing distance. I wear progressive lenses at work and they are good. I haven't tried them shooting or in the woods but I should I'm just holding off as long as I can. I had lasik almost 20 yrs. ago but its getting time for glasses full time again.

QuoteOriginally posted by petalumapete:
I've worn glasses for years. One thing I can guarantee is with progressive lenses in the field you will be picking yourself up off the ground.  They  throw off depth perception. Can't begin to tell ya how many times I've fallen not seeing the dip in the ground  

Yeah, what he said. And it was hell on my shooting until I figured it out. Went to single lenses for all outdoor activities with much better results.

I've used the transition glass for many years but I found switching to polarizing lenses made a huge difference for my light-sensitive blue eyes. And the transition lenses darken at cold temperatures, which is not very handy during the winter late in the day or in deep woods. I now carry both the polarizing and clear versions with me.

I have worn glasses all my life and line bifocals since I was 40 or so. Never had a problem shooting my bows or my service weapon. I have a set of computer glasses with the bifocals that I use when I am qualifing with my service weapon, all I want to see crisp and clear are my sights.

I recently replaced my everyday wear glasses with a pair of Oakley OO Red Iridium lenses. This new tint is perfect for shooting-all the colors are perfect.  White is even still white.  Since I'm locked behind tinted lenses because of damage to my optic nerve, I have to find the best compromise, and they're it.  If you use prescription sunglasses they're about as good as it gets.

I used to struggle with my progressive lenses, but eventually got used to them. When hunting from a stand though, I dont wear them. I worry more about excess movement, Glasses are a distraction for me, and I have learned that the smallest movement can get you busted.

Get a pair of Transition bifocals with the reading magnification in the lower inside corner--the glass folks call them golfers glasses. All the lens is distance except for a small corner that is reading. Use them for shooting guns and bows, and working. Use no line for reading, computer and all other stuff. You can add a lens cover for the extremely sunny days in the car. That is how I solved my problem, Roy

I wear progressive lenses as well, and struggled shooting with them.  My solution is that I have a second single vision lens that I use for distance only with archery, bicycling etc.

Good luck.

Once they adjusted my glasses down, I had very little trouble with seeing the ground.  I did have to put my chin on my chest to see my toes clear.  Walking in the woods was not an issue after that. I amused to moving my head more Now that I have had progressives a whole. It didn't bother me too much when working on stands the last couple weeks. I did have a little problem seeing the counter or bench top clear right close to me without chin on chest or bending a bit. Mostly my complaint after that was how low and narrow my computer / handgun vision range was. That and the limited clear view area lower on the side of my lens.

Yesterday I stopped back to see what more they could do.  Sounds like not mooch to make the midrange area taller.  That is set by the lens design. They did make an adjustment tilting the lenses to bring the bottom closer to my eyes. That gave me Even better ground and work bench vision.  It also raised my mid range focus area a little.  I am going to see if they can do a little more of that.  Not that I need more for looking down but I figure I can get a bit higher midrange and then maybe they can then raise my glasses up a but more. That would work for most stuff and I will just have to work a bit more on a new anchor and head position.

I am thinking I will likely get some single vision glasses for distance at some point. Sooner than later if my shooting doesn't come around soon.

I also may hunt without glasses.  My vision is not that bad when my eyes adjust to not having glasses on as long as i don't strain them a lot. That is hard to do after a day of reading and computer work but i get buy okay if I don't read stuff and don't wear glasses on the weekends.