Does anyone else hunt with progressive glasses? I guess I'm getting old. I have always worn glasses/contacts but the eye doc has been telling me I needed some progressives for about two years. I finally got to the point where I couldn't see enough to read well, work on stuff, etc so I bit the bullet and got some this summer. It took me a minute to get used to them and I love them now for day-to-day stuff. However, yesterday was the first time I sat in a tree stand with them. I did not like it. Sitting in a tree stand, especially bow hunting in closer quarters and any distance up a tree, it seemed like I was looking down, mostly through the bottom half (the reading part) of my glasses more times than not - which causes things at any distance further than normal reading distance to be blurry. They're fine if I'm looking further out from the stand and not down - but that was always much farther than bow range. I have been practicing and shooting my bow with them on and that's not really a problem. Does anyone else have any similar experience? I guess I need to dig up my old pair that aren't progressive or get a new single vision pair with my current Rx. They are just so danged expensive these days.

Luckily I'm not quite there yet but probably will be soon... There are websites where you can get really cheap single vision glasses shipped to you. They will even send you frames first to try on. May be a good thing to look into so you can have a pair solely for hunting or working without a large investment.

You had me on the "progressives" at first. I was thinkin "What in tarnation?"

Hated hunting with progressive glasses. Had my lenses changed.

I need to look into some of those cheaper online places. The only problem is that I have an astigmatism so even my single vision lenses are crazy expensive.

I feel your pain. The last pair I bought from an eye care center cost me $700. At that rate, Lasik would pay for itself in two years.

^^^^ This. Funny how my doctor has always said "I'm not a good candidate for lasik" when I spend at least $1000/yr on glasses and contacts too - not counting yearly checkup and exam fees.

Not to sound paranoid, but I’ve been told that before too and my opinion is they’re trying to keep a customer, not help a patient!

I have astigmatism and have had lasik however im nowhere close to needing bifocals so cant help ya there.

I have an astigmatism as well and wear contacts a year supply(2week change out) cost me around 300 bucks a year for contacts before insurance. When I was buying them at the eye doctor insurance cover the first 6 months and I had to pay 50 bucks and then next 6 months insurance didn't cover because its yearly and was $475. I found them online and Walgreens bought the company out last year same cheap prices and they email you 20-30% codes all year.

eyebuydirect.com Very inexpensive and if you don't like them for any reason they will refund you. I just bought a pair a couple of weeks ago. I got transition, UV protection, glare reducing lens and rimless frames for under $100 shipped to my door.

Sweet deal.

Thanks, guys. I'll definitely check out some of those sites.

Progressive lenses do present some problems when bowhunting due to the nature of the lens design and since you're not looking through the optical centers when you draw your bow back. Plus, glasses are a PITA when bowhunting anyway. I usually tell my hunters to go with a less expensive "line" bifocal for hunting. They have a larger area for distance viewing and have less distortion. I also have them set the bifocal at a different height than usual (slightly lower) to allow the hunter to still see up close (phone, watch, ect.) but it's not in the way when you are looking at the pins or at distance. Eventually, when your vision is blurry at arms reach (pins, pistol sight) you will need to have that addressed. Back in the day, I would have the patient bring their pistol or bow into the office and tape measure the distance and come up with the exact power in glasses (or contacts) for clear vision at that "in between" or what we call "intermediate" distance.

Contacts actually work great for hunting but a lot of men cannot get over the hump of the idea of touching their eye so that's not an option in many cases. My vision is a little weaker now and I got over that issue and I wear very low power contacts for hunting now. Makes a huge difference, especially at dawn and dusk.

As far as your doc telling you that you're not a great candidate for LASIK, I'm spitballing here but if your Rx is pretty low and you mainly need glasses for near, you generally are not a great candidate. I usually wait until my patients are really dependent on full time correction for distance before recommending LASIK. BTW, you can fix the near vision with LASIK but at the sacrifice of the distance vision in that eye.

PM me with any questions and I'll try to help all I can.

Dr. B

If you are 50 or older, be SURE your eye doc checks for cataracts. IF you have them be sure to pay the extra charge for the premium implants. It is LIFE CHANGING!