We all deteriorate… to some degree, over time. Failing eyes, or Presbyopia, usually occurs beginning at around age 40, when people experience blurred near vision when reading, sewing or working at the computer. Mine was at 45.
A very common question that I receive on the range is related directly to presbyopia, to which I have an answer. But first, a few options are a site adjustment. For example, I recently switched optics to include an EOTech 3X multiplier behind my T2 on my carbine. I train with fiber optics on the range during the day, and use Trijicon’s HDs or Tough and Brights on my EDCs. Many have switched to a red dot such as an RMR on their pistol. The red dots, to me, can be seen with absolute clarity despite my poor reading vision, but I dare not carry one on the range. I would rather suffer with blurry sites than to appear to have a mechanical advantage while I am teaching; I am still going to knock the center of the target out. When red dots become more of the norm, than they are right now, I will no doubt, be riding that train.
So, I guess my answer to those who ask is, deal with it and figure it out.
Patrick McNamara
SGM, US Army (Ret)
Patrick McNamara spent twenty-two years in the United States Army in a myriad of special operations units. When he worked in the premier Special Missions Unit, he became an impeccable marksman, shooting with accurate, lethal results and tactical effectiveness. McNamara has trained tactical applications of shooting to people of all levels of marksmanship, from varsity level soldiers, and police officers who work the streets to civilians with little to no time behind the trigger.
His military experience quickly taught him that there is more to tactical marksmanship than merely squeezing the trigger. Utilizing his years of experience, McNamara developed a training methodology that is safe, effective and combat relevant and encourages a continuous thought process. This methodology teaches how to maintain safety at all times and choose targets that force accountability, as well as provides courses covering several categories, including individual, collective, on line and standards.
While serving as his Unit’s Marksmanship NCO, he developed his own marksmanship club with NRA, CMP, and USPSA affiliations. Mac ran monthly IPSC matches and ran semi annual military marksmanship championships to encourage marksmanship fundamentals and competitiveness throughout the Army.He retired from the Army’s premier hostage rescue unit as a Sergeant Major and is the author of T.A.P.S. (Tactical Application of Practical Shooting). He also served as the Principle of TMACS Inc.
Gunfighter Moment is a weekly feature brought to you by Alias Training & Security Services. Each week Alias brings us a different Trainer and in turn they offer some words of wisdom.
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…or consult your eye care provider. Look for one among the members of your shooting club or search the web for one who works with athlete. Since you wear glasses for safety anyway, you might as well have them with the right prescription. Additionally, you can add anti glare, scratch resistance and anti smudge coating, or even Transition lenses that will adapt to luminosity.
Lots of options.
Slightly blurry works from bad breath distance to battle axe tossing distance. So GAS IT UP AND BURN IT DOWN!!
Pat Mac for President!
I am actually near sighted so my close up vision is fine, even at 48. For longer distance I have a great place I go in my home town that caters to hunters/shooters. You can even bring in your firearms for the vision testing.
https://www.safevision.net/16-shooting-and-hunting
Yes, I’ve reached that age. My issue is with my current prescription I can’t see my pistol’s front sight well or have to cant my head back.
I’ll be looking for an optometrist that deals with shooting needs but pointers would help. Maybe I should ask for a nearsighted prescription for just my dominant/shooting eye?
I wonder if doctors proscribe nearsighted prescriptions for the correct distance? Reading distances are different than shooting. That front sight blade is at least a foot or two farther away than the test for reading glasses.
I’m using progressives and I asked my optometrist to scooch the line up just a bit on my shooting glasses.
My eyes have held up so far. Although I have bought reading glasses since it is only a matter of time.
But I have indeed noticed some decline in my hand / eye coordination and my manual dexterity. So formerly simple and speedy tasks like drawing, holstering and mag changes are a little slower and more methodical now.
The price of getting old. Someone is going to make a lot of money tailoring training to accommodate us aging baby boomers – if they aren’t already.
TLB
Deal with it…I do.
This is perhaps my main issue with shooting, my eyes.
I would gladly trade my still thick jet black hair at 51 for my 30ish eyesight!!
SafeVision will create a shooter prescription where they invert your prescription so your close up is up top. Bad thing is for everyday wear outside of the range they don’t work well. So I opt to just use my regular shooters/everyday glasses to get used to shooting with them. It’s an adjustment for sure as your head position will change, instead of being down into your shooting stance ya kinda need to tilt back a bit but I am working on point shooting anyhoo plus running Trijicon RMR’s on all my carry guns.
Tactical RX is also a great place and they made me some very nice Rudy’s in my prescription with interchangeable lenses. It wasn’t cheap, around $700 when all said and done, but I can wear them all day, sun, night and overcast.
I pray they are able to somehow, within my lifetime, get our eye lenses flexible again one day so they can focus as they did when young. You 20 somethings….CHERISH YOUR EYESIGHT!
and your hearing…
Pardon?
I’ve known a few (older) folks who have opted for monovision lasik surgery (can correct for both myopia and presbyopia), but it may not be for everyone.
Why not contact lenses?
They come as disposable daily lenses too. Zero hassle.