I’m tired of those irritating shooting glasses that fit over my prescription eyeglasses and scratch too easy and fog up like crazy. I’ve decided to upgrade to an actual set of Rx shooting glasses.
I’ve done some internet searching and haven’t come up with much. The only thing I’ve come up with is the Eye Safety Systems (ESS) Interchangeable Component Eyeshield (ICE) system. I went on the Oakley website but couldn’t find anything specifically rated for shooting.
Obviously, I want a lens material (polycarbonate?) strong enough to take a hit and protect my eyes. From what I’ve learned that would be something that can pass ANSI Z87 and the MIL-V-43511C ballistic impact test. The problem is I’m drawing blanks on what brand/model to get.
Any suggestions from some vision-imparied experts?
I too am visually impaired–severely myopic. I don’t see why the polycarbonate and like “glasses” in prescriptions ala Oakley should not be ANSI rated for shooting. Have you tried looking up Wiley-X?
Depending on your prescription, wrap around lenses may not be possible. I’m remarkably near sighted (+3.50, +4.00, IIRC). I was looking for a pair of wrap around Oakley’s and my eye doctor said it couldn’t be done. Good luck.
Thanks, that thread has a lot of useful info. The one thing that bothers me is that there is no place in my area that stocks the brands I’m most interested in (ESS and Revision). I’m afraid I will run into a fitment problem like Rob S had with his hearing protection. Incidentally, I’m also getting new earmuffs and it’s going to be ComTac IIs or Sordins.
here’s a picture of me with the ESS ICE system and Peltor Shotgunner hearing protection.
the arms on the ICE system are pretty skinny and i haven’t had much problem getting a good seal around me ears. no discomfort from the muffs pressing down on them either.
I have the ESS with perscription as well. The only thing I don’t like is the perscription lenses will touch around my eyes because I always lean my nose to touch the charging handle and sometimes press the glasses in a little, and I have to wipe the lense clean constantly, very annoying. I’ll try another type if I didn’t already spent the money on the perscription lense. Might not be a problem if you have high nose.
AwaySooner, I was just wondering about what you said. You must read minds!
I’ve head problems in the past with my standard eye glasses touching my eyebrows and making the lenses dirty. I was worried about the ESS ICE or the Revision Sawfly’s doing the same thing.
Does the Rx insert sit closer to one’s eye than standard glasses? I assume they don’t and that the outer lens is further away from your head.
I tried some local optometrists jsut to see what sort of shooting glasses were available. Mostly what I received is blank stares followed by “See what Gander Mountain has…”. I think the next step will be to order some ICE glasses and see how they’ll fit.
If I like the way they feel will I have to send them the Rx adapter and my prescription to get lenses made? Most of the eye docs I talked to weren’t interested in having lenses made for products they’re not going to sell me.
On a positive note, I narrowed down my earmuff selection to Sordin Pro Supreme Pro-X earmuffs.
they sit relatively close but have never given me any problems, and i don’t have much of a nose bridge(damn genetics! hehe). the bottom of the protective lens does contact my cheek occasionally.
i’ve had the scope on a K31 pop me once, square on the bridge of the glasses. no cuts from the inserts or the protective lens.
Lenscrafters had no problem slapping the prescription lenses on the insert holder. they came with “fake” lenses on them already, so they were able to shape them exactly like those and mount them. cost me $110 iirc.
Which Rx insert did you get–the wire frame or the black plastic? It looks like the wire frame has more coverage but I just don’t know which to order. Where did you order yours from?
BTW, any problems with distorition, clarity looking through two lenses, etc?
mine has the wire frames inserts. htey didn’t have the plastic ones available back when i bought mine 3 years ago.
and oh man…i can’t recall where i bought mine. i know it was an on-line site, likely opticsplanet.com. but i’m not 100% confident that was where i bought them.
there is a very slight amount of distortion at the extreme outer edges that i attribute to the curvature of the protective lenses(i only see it on my clear lenses, so it’s probably just those lenses. the hi-vis yellow and smoke lenses don’t have any distortion). not enough to really bug my peripheral vision though.
i don’t think i would care for the plastic insert due to the framing of the entire prescription lens. the wire ones do not encircle the entire prescription lens.
As you can see, it works for some people and not for others, depending on your face shape and nose I guess. The only way to tell if it works is for you to try it on with the perscription frame, unfortunately, it’ll be hard to find a place that sell ESS. I put some black electrical tape on the nose bridge to lift it further out, that helps a bit. You have to be very careful removing it from the frame, the plastic nose bridge is very very fragile, but it’s a couple bucks to buy a new replacement.
batgeek–thanks, the pics help a lot. I think I’m going to order the ESS and Sawfly’s and see which one’s fit best and send the others back.
BTW, any recommendations on who to buy from? I figured I’d give my business to a supplier on this forum since everybody has been so kind to answer my questions.
I use Nautica, they are UV and Polarized and give you a good FOV here is a link to the pair I liked best http://sunglasses.go-optic.com/store/Sunglasses/details.asp?id=9016&cat=2 they did cost me alot I paid $192 and that is after the 40% off but they are well worth it. They are pretty much just sunglasses but they will put prescription lens in them and it comes with the Tint that you see in the pic and UV, Polarized… It made me a better shooter in the day over my other glasses… They are not really made to be shooting glasses but will stand up to it with no probs…
I was wondering if I should get me a pair of prescription shooting safety glasses/goggles if the need arises (and I hope not) to get up and investigate that dreaded “bump in the night”! No time to put on contact lenses. . .
It is worth it… I became a better shooter when I got my Pair of Nautica, UV/Poarized glasses in… they are very strong and give you a good FOV well still making you look good
I thought about going the nice looking glasses route (I have a pair of Oakley that I can convert), but decide to go with ESS because they are built for safety. I don’t know how strong regular prescription plastic is. After all, this is a safety equipment.
