Yesterday I decided to do a few of my volunteer hours at the club by picking up brass. Then I practiced drawing and shooting.

I’m using my 1911 with my favorite Heinie straight 8 sights. At least they used to be my favorite sights. All I could see was a fuzzy black smear. I think it’s time to retire them and put on some HD’s or XS sights. My carry gun has XS F8 sights and I can still see them.

Reverse bifolcals are your friend.

I did forget to mention that it was sunny and I had my prescription sunglasses on. Those do not have my readers in them. I just checked the sights with my readers. It’s better. Not perfect but manageable. I see the sights best with no glasses at all.

I thought you were kidding about reverse bifocals until I looked it up. I imagine those would take some time getting used to.

400m, Some time before I had cataract surgery, I visited a local ophthalmologist. I had him make a pair of glasses with my regular prescription in the left lens, while the right lens focused at front sight distance. Worked quite well, and didn't take long to get used to. In fact, a time or two I left the range, forgetting I had on those special glasses. I had multi focal lenses installed when I got around to having cataract surgery, and no longer need the special glasses. But they worked quite well when I needed them...

That would work great for the range. Self defense, probably close enough and scared enough that it wouldn’t make a ton of difference. My 1911 is a Colt CCO and it’s got a pretty rare rear sight cut in it to begin with. Theres not a lot of options for the rear.

Could you hire young eyes with new optics on HK MP5s as bodyguards? You would be the talk of the town as you go about.

I hate my need for optics now.

opened this thread expecting some posts about old Redfield Olympics, Palma's and maybe some Vavers or Freeland stuff,



but nope, and I agree with the OP, my most carried guns have XS sights, I can see them fine with out readers, and of course better with,

Just a wild guess:

You’re mid to late 40’s.

Optics are the future...both for the industry, and for most us as individuals as we age.

quote:

Originally posted by CPD SIG:
Just a wild guess:

You’re mid to late 40’s.

No sir, 53 this past January. I realize optics would help, but I can’t stand the look truthfully.

I had the same problem.
What I found that worked was .5+ computer glasses.
Just enough magnification to bring the front sight in focus and still be able to see the slightly blurred target.
A red fiber optic front sight and a straight walled black rear sight solved my problem on all my handguns with iron sights.

quote:

Originally posted by rock185:
400m, Some time before I had cataract surgery, I visited a local ophthalmologist. I had him make a pair of glasses with my regular prescription in the left lens, while the right lens focused at front sight distance. Worked quite well, and didn't take long to get used to. In fact, a time or two I left the range, forgetting I had on those special glasses. I had multi focal lenses installed when I got around to having cataract surgery, and no longer need the special glasses. But they worked quite well when I needed them...

is this like progressives?

Since cataract surgery I've switched over to red dots because irons are to blurry for any fine work.

quote:

Originally posted by 400m:

quote:

Originally posted by CPD SIG:
Just a wild guess:

You’re mid to late 40’s.

No sir, 53 this past January. I realize optics would help, but I can’t stand the look truthfully.

53?!? You’re doing better than me!
Damn! My eyes went around 45. Quick story:
I shoot a decent amount, dry fire even more.
I started to notice that my groups were getting bigger…
Hmmmm….

I had to qualify for work. I brought the ear pro, but no eye pro. My “cheaters” were propped on my head, and actually thought that my “cheaters” were my eye pro.

WELL DAMN! Look at how crisp and clear that front sight is!!!!! WOW!!!!
Then realized that gettin’ old sucks.
I realized that my eyes were slowly getting bad.


Try going to the local pharmacy/walmart/Home Depot. For about $5 - $7 they have “cheaters” or the reading glasses.
I think 1.25 is the lowest magnification you can get.
Use the tip of a pen, hold it out at arms length- just about where a front sight would be.
Glasses off
Glasses on

Which one is clearer?

Yes, optics are helpful! The dot/triangle/circle is projected out, and easier on my peepers.

There is dryer lint on the sights of all my firearms. I went to scope for all my rifles, including the rimfires. The reading glasses help a lot for handguns even though the target is a little fuzzy. I had to go to a laser on my carry firearm because I don't wear the readers all day.

I just bought a 22 pistol with a reflex sight and so far I am impressed. I have to train myself not to look for the front sight, I keep raising the barrel to find the sight but it will become natural.

I sure do like XS sights. The big dots for a non traditional sight or the R3D/R3D 2.0 for a big bright post and notch traditional sight. I'm running the R3D sights on my Glock 26's and really like them.

https://xssights.com/products/...andgun-sights/glock/

I'm also in the middle of getting cataract surgery.

quote:

Originally posted by 4MUL8R:
Could you hire young eyes with new optics on HK MP5s as bodyguards? You would be the talk of the town as you go about.

I hate my need for optics now.

That would be great. Although I’m not sure the Mrs. would agree with my choice.

CPD SIG, I’ve been wearing bifocals since I was 41-42. The front sight has been hard to see for quite a while, but Saturday, I couldn’t differentiate the front from the rear or any light on either side. Just a fuzzy smear of black. I just tried to center the black mass. Thank goodness I was only 3 or 4 yards away. I’m sure some day I’ll give in to red dots. I’m really concerned about comfort level with an optic. Carrying is uncomfortable enough. I switched from kydex to leather for appendix carry and that made a world of difference.

My vision deficit is 50% astigmatism, where vertical lines are blurry. Absent that, i can still see adequately both at fingertip distance and far distance. My newer primary carry Sig P320 has the red dot, which is perfect regardless of whether I'm wearing any glasses (bifocal or distance only) or not. Open rifle sights are a real challenge at any longer distance these days without my Rx glasses, because the rear sight is pretty blurry.

My wife is having cataract surgery this summer, and I expect I am only a few years away myself. As I learn about the replacement lens options, I may seek to accelerate the timeline specifically to correct the astigmatism.

quote:

posted June 22, 2025 05:57 PM Hide Post
Reverse bifolcals are your friend.

This!

Have +1.0 diopter put in a small spot at the top of the lens on your shooting eye. That will give you a clear front sight.


You can confirm with your optometrist.

I am the inventor of the ClearsighT shooter’s optic from the early 80’s. Almost every Bullseye shooter had one in their gun box before glass/dot sights were allowed!

Tillman

quote:

Originally posted by 92fstech:
Optics are the future...both for the industry, and for most us as individuals as we age.

I'm discovering this.

My vision problem is farsightedness, so the front sight has been progressively more challenging to the point my eyes ache after a short while at the range.

I'm trying out a Holosun 407k on a G19, and it seems to be a day-and-night difference.

So yeah, looks like my future.