Some insight on dominant eye shooting and corrective lenses, and a question.

[toine]

One of my guest bloggers, Robert Buonfiglio, OD, recently shared what was to me a very informative article on shooting and eye dominance. He closed with sharing that some shooters will opt for special corrective prescription glasses to help assist them with being able to shoot with both eyes open, yet keep everything in focus (this is more of an issue when people reach that reading glasses age range it seems).

I was wondering if anyone here had gone that route, that is the corrective eyeglasses for shooting, and if so, what your experience has been? I ask as I'm debating approaching the subject with my father in law whose chief complaints seem to be ones that might be resolved by going this route.

http://www.airgunsarp.com/2015/07/07/learning-to-shoot-with-both-eyes-open-tricks-for-working-with-your-dominant-eye-dr-robert-a-buonfiglio-o-d/

[Slavia]

I looked into prescription shooting glasses once.  My doctor (also a shooter) said it would be necessary to locate the optical center of the dominant eye's lens along the sight line.  (Optical center being the place with the least distortion.)  That means that there probably would be distortion in the parts of the lens used for everyday tasks.  I couldn't justify the expenditure for an item of such limited utility.

In addition to the reasons mentioned in the link, shooting with both eyes open keeps the facial muscles more relaxed and less likely to pull you off target.  Squinting one eye shut tenses muscles, but for me keeping both eyes open is easier said than done.  I can mount a blinder on most of my scopes that helps.  I have been told that translucent white is best, because it transmits an amount of light nearly equal to that coming through the scope to the other eye.  For some reason I find black more comfortable.

For open sights I have a pair of homebrew shooting glasses.  The frames are my own from a while back, and the lenses are from a pair of trashed sunglasses.  The non-dominant side has been "fogged" with steel wool to accomplish the same purpose as the blinders on my scopes.  The little black piece has a pinhole that increases depth of field so that the rear sight, front sight, and target all come into focus.  (The commercial product "EyePal" does the same thing.)  The milk jug side shields are to minimize distractions from movement in my peripheral vision.  Except, of course, when it's idiot day at the range.  Then I want to be aware of what's going on all up and down the firing line.

All this stuff works great in a range setting, but it's awkward in the field.  And my kids will point out that it makes me look like Locutus of Borg.

[TCups]

Tried a number of "corrective" approaches until I reached my early 50's.  I was still always no more than average with my shotguns and marginal with any rifle.  Pistols, I could handle by modification of my grip.  Then, I decided to buy my first true LH rifle (a pellet rifle, BTW) and set it up a custom fit for my (large) size.  Then, I set about learning to shoot LH. 

Excuse the humor, but what an EYE OPENER!  Now, I can shoot LH or RH -- both feel reasonably natural, but shooting LH is MUCH more accurate for me and now, comes more naturally than shooting RH.  It took about 1 year to actually make the switch.



Heres the investment I made for my first LH air rifle.  A vintage 10-Meter single pumper that I could shoot indoors.  I'd come home after work and shoot for an hour or so every evening, standing, off-hand.  Now, I am very comfortable doing so with most any shotgun or rifle I own. 

Another surprising plus is that, with a RH bolt action rifle off a front rest (tripod or bench), I can keep my grip on the stock, my finger near the trigger and work a RH bolt very quickly.  Big advantage for follow up shots, particularly with my AirArms S-410 FAC side lever.



My advice:  don't wait too long to give a serious try to making the switch to LH shooting if you are OS dominant.

[sixshootertexan]

I've asked my eye doc about the glasses with the optical center set for looking through a scope. He said it can be done. I just can't see paying for something I would only use a couple hours a month. Now if I was competitively shooting that would be a different story.

[condor22]

I've asked my eye doc about the glasses with the optical center set for looking through a scope. He said it can be done. I just can't see paying for something I would only use a couple hours a month. Now if I was competitively shooting that would be a different story.

 Can you recommend some info on optic centered eyeglasses? I use progressive lens, looking through 'em from the bottom edge to the top edge as needed to focus. For work, computer or reading.  I don't wear my glasses looking through rifle scopes, however iron sights are useless unless my eyeglasses are on. 

[Sfttailrdr46]

  Sorry no help here I'm right eye dominant and right handed , I also learned to shoot with both eyes open . My dad was a WW II combat vet and a hard task master when he first started to teach me sight picture and spatial awareness any time I squinted my left eye shut he would clap his hands loudly next to my head . Solved two problems . Flinching and reminded me to keep my left eye open

[sixshootertexan]

I've never researched it before just talking to other shooters so I just did a little looking. Most shooters look thru the top section of glasses when shooting and if your using a scope it may be the upper corner closest to your nose (depends on left or right handed). I googled shooting glasses optical center and found this.

http://www.cleartargetoptics.com/faqs.html

[condor22]

I've never researched it before just talking to other shooters so I just did a little looking. Most shooters look thru the top section of glasses when shooting and if your using a scope it may be the upper corner closest to your nose (depends on left or right handed). I googled shooting glasses optical center and found this.

http://www.cleartargetoptics.com/faqs.html

 Thanks, I have to point my nose at what I'm looking at (optical center) because progressive eyeglasses only work looking through their center. I can't do that with my cheekweld, thus forcing me to remove my glasses for scope use. However using pistol iron sights, I can see the rear sight, front sight and target clearly by slightly raising my glasses up or down. I had given up hand guns for along time until recently getting fed up struggling with cheap reading glasses.

 Your link explained it.

[sixshootertexan]

I've also heard of them flipping the lenses so the bifocal is on top.