Eyesight

[Squidward]

Mrs. S has a Glock 19 and needs new sights. Currently the gun has 3 dot Trijicons. Her eyesight is such that she wears reading glasses to see the sights. This complicates distance shooting. Her long distance sight is fine and different glasses are not an option. I'm thinking about XS sights or maybe a laser for her..

The advise of anyone who shares a similar situation would be welcomed.

[Old4eyes]

Why are another pair of glasses not an option?

I wear continuous bifocals in my normal glasses, but for shooting I wear hard line bifocals with the distant vision portion cut quite high so the neutral head position is through the lower bifocal and I have to tilt my head down a little to see the far distance.

If the eye can't focus on the front sight, maybe the larger sight will be a fix, but the eyesight may get worse and the Big Dot will become a Big Blur.

Or is the issue that this a self defense scenario and the thought is the need to be able to shoot without glasses in the middle of the night?

[Bullwinkle]

There's a non-traditional sight system out there--and unfortunately I forget what it's called (the hex sight?)--that is designed to allow the shooter to focus on the target rather than the front sight. I've heard incredible things about it, have not heard anything bad yet, but have no 1st-hand experience. It looks ugly--or at best funky--but you're already shooting a Glock anyway so that obviously isn't a concern. Heh heh... seriously, though, this might be a consideration for her since it eliminates the need for reading glasses altogether.

Just did a google search. Yes, it's called the HexSite. Go visit http://www.goshen-hexsite.com for more info.

[glockman19]

Add a laser to it. If she can see distance just put the red dot on the target...problem solved.

[scarville]

I personally hate laser sights but they could be a solution for this issue. One of the low profile red dots might be another option. I've read some good reviews of the the Leupold Delta Point and the Trijicon RMR. Of course I can't find them now.

Take a look at the hexsite. I haven't tried them yet (not available for any of my guns) but I have used "ghost ring" sights on a few hand guns in the past. They worked very well with my astigmatism -- YMMV.

[HighLander51]

What you need to do is correct for the front sight. The target and rear sight can be fuzzy, but that front sight has to be like a razor. This correction works for computer distance also. It's further than reading distance, but not to infinity. On my glasses, i have the dominant corrected to front sight, and the weak eye to infinity. It's an old action shooters trick.

[Grumpyoldretiredcop]

I use prescription inserts in Gargoyle shooting glasses. They work very well. She could either use a zero-prescription lens or simply not have a corrective lens in front of her support side eye if she feels she needs distance vision without removing the shooting glasses. You purchase the insert frames and take them to your optometrist to have the insert lenses made to your order.

[Squidward]

Thank you all for your input.

Old4eyes,

No new glasses because she said so... (it's a girl thing)

[Old4eyes]

Thank you all for your input.

Old4eyes,

No new glasses because she said so... (it's a girl thing)

I never understand girl things. I have a wife and 2 daughters and I am totally clueless in girl things.

I am using UVEX safety glasses with their insert that allows for prescription glass to be cut. The frames, outer protector and prescription insert are not that expensive. Getting the prescription lenses made on the other hand was not cheap.

You can get the different safety portions of the lenses - yellow (contrast), light gray, dark gray, mirrored, clear etc.

Tell her she'll look like Angelina Jolie when she wears them.
Maybe paint the frames pink?

Here's the link where I bought mine:

http://www.coopersafety.com/product/uvex-xc-safety-glasses-1032.aspx

[Spirit 1]

I had a similar problem and found that a fiber optic front sight was a huge improvement. Bright flourescent red/orange, can't miss it and it stands out on the target. Also relatively cheap and often a home install. Worth a try, and maybe you could borrow one or find one at a range somewhere?