Joined here not too long ago and have made maximum use of the search function but I want to run this past you all before spending money.
Now that I’m north of 50 I’ve had to resort to glasses, no-line trifocals, and they make focusing on the front sight a real challenge. I’m far sighted and can see distance quite well. Problem is, when I’m in a shooting position with proper cheek weld I have to look through the upper area of the lenses, the distance part, to see the front sight. This renders the front sight post blurry and accuracy problematic. I did a search here and it seems a RDS might help and while I’ve always been a fan of iron sights, if a RDS is a viable solution, I’ll do that. Opinions and options most welcome.
It’s the iron sights that make presbyopia problematic since they require that you be able to focus on the front sight two feet away and still be able to resolve the target at infinity.
The dot on a quality RDS is projected onto the same plane as the target. Therefore, good distant vision eyesight is all you need to effectively use an RDS. If your distance vision is good, you can use a standard collimated RDS such as Aimpoint or Eotech without any need for correction.
Note that in some situations, astigmatism can make one RDS or the other a little problematic in terms of resolving the dot. That is minimized if you focus on the target instead of the dot…a concept many new RDS users have trouble grasping.
I have a similar situation with progressive lenses to correct vision that is poor both up close and at distance. I really liked shooting irons but I can’t see both the irons and the target at the same time any more. The red dot has been very effective for me. I have used both Eotech and Aimpoint. My glasses allow me to see the target much better, and the dot is in focus as well. My only issue was that a good cheek weld with my first glasses left me looking through the top wire of my glasses frame. When I got my next pair, I went with a much rounder frame shape which put the top wire farther up in my field of view. This has helped considerably.
First, thanks to all for the responses which confirmed that I’m in need of a quality rds. I’ve already gone with a larger and more round frame on the new prescription which did help some. I also got one of those retainer strap thingies that keep the glasses snug against my head as I did find myself looking over the top of them at times. The optometrist wasn’t real enthusiastic about contacts, especially the bifocal type, being a solution.
What we did try while at the optometrist office was, he set up a pair of test glasses, the type that can be adjusted on the fly, for my mid-range vision. I put them on and the front sight distance was excellent but the long range was bad.
Anyway, the Aimpoint Pro and Eotech 512 sure get good reviews and they aren’t budget busters so I’ll probably get one or the other of those.
Thanks again.
One additional question. Since I’ll be keeping the standard front sight, will I need to get some type of riser with the Aimpoint or Eotech? The M4 I have has a removable carrying handle leaving it as a flat top.
If you are shooting centerfire it’s a good idea to wear protective eyewear. I’m in the same boat you are (presbyopia). My solution was to get prescription shooting glasses. They aren’t perfect, but they do help quite a bit. I can now shoot irons with my front sight in focus.
It might be reasonable to reevaluate your stance. If you are bladed relative to the target with the rifle shouldered in the “pocket” (deltopectoral groove), it requires that you lay your cheek down more on the stock making both eyeglasses and and electronic ear pro problematic. That’s sort of the classic old rifle shooting stance. Standing more square to the target puts the rifle closer to your midline, lets your head sit more upright and allows a better look through an RDS with fewer cheek weld problems therefore less interference from eye and ear protection.
Tried changing my stance today as suggested and there wasn’t much difference and the glasses are safeties with the removable side shields. Required for my job.
So, it appears that a rds is the better and easiest option.
I proposed that more common combat stance as a means addressing the relatively common complaint of cheek weld disturbing the fit of electronic ear pro or some eye protection. Naturally, it won’t help presbyopia. No question, best solution to that for iron sight replacement is an RDS.
From a cost/performance standpoint, hard to beat an Aimpoint PRO. If you might use a magnifier and prefer a 1 MOA dot, the XPS series Eotechs are a good starting point.
Armor or no, bladed stance affords your assailant the opportunity to take out both of your lungs, your aorta, and your heart with one center-of-mass shot.
I appreciate all the advice and I ordered an Aimpoint Pro as well as a Magpul rear backup sight last night. Should have both before the end of the week and I’ll get to the range ASAP.
I stopped by one of the big box sporting goods stores yesterday to see what they had and was able to test a Truglo. Even that one was a major improvement so the Aimpoint should be great. The Aimpoint also offers amazing battery life.
After the first range session I’ll post back with my impressions.
Talk to eye doc about a boat right lens. Basically upside down bifocal. For folks that do overhead close work. You can do it in just your dominant eye. Get a set of frames with lens large enough so that when you drop your head to see the sight through the top third of the lens you are seeing the correct rx for your front sight distance.
I have the issue that to shoot pistol irons my dominant eye lens is set for close and left is distance. But now red dots on carbine is a blob. I am moving to 1-4s I think, replacing my Aimpoints so I can focus the reticle clear with my rx. This way pistol irons and carbine optic can be clear.
If your non dominant eye close rx is the same you can play with the boatwright concept by wearing your existing bi vocals upside down.
My prescription for each eye is slightly different but the boatwright concept is interesting so I’ll ask the optometrist about it this weekend. Turning the glasses upside down however was just bizarre due to the lenses being somewhat different.
Just got back from the range zeroing in the new Aimpoint Pro and I haven’t shot that well in years. Thanks to everyone for the help with this. When I can overlap bullet holes in the bullseye at 50 yards, I’m happy.
I proposed that more common combat stance as a means addressing the relatively common complaint of cheek weld disturbing the fit of electronic ear pro or some eye protection. Naturally, it won’t help presbyopia. No question, best solution to that for iron sight replacement is an RDS.