Eye Protection, is your's good enough?

[Miller]

Lately there has been some discussion on some blogs I follow concerning eye protection for the shooter.
And as if by planning on Thursday an LuckyGunner.com posts a test and review.

Now, it is not the most comprehensive test in the world.
There are plenty of options that could have also been tested.
But...

It did make some interesting points and has caused me to rethink my own choices for eye protection.

I would recommend you all at least give it a quick read and consider whether or not you really are as protected as you think you are.

The link below goes to the article.

http://www.luckygunner.com/labs/eye-protection-shooting-glasses-review/#bookmark10

[Johnnyappleseed]

Good article , I may spend more on my next set of pres. glasses .
Thanx for posting .

[GoldFish]

Interesting.  It's because I've recently been reading more and more things like this that urged me to purchase a pair of ESS glasses that are on the APEL, meet ANSI Z87,1+, US Federal OSHA, CE EN 166, US MIL-PRF-31013, and have excellent reviews from soldiers that have used them in the sandbox.  Oakley's may be next on my list, but for those that don't want to spend that much, maybe only $30-$50 on a solid pair of glasses, then I'd look on eBay.  The pair of ESS's that I bought are MSRPed at about $120; I paid $40.   
My vision is better than 20/20, and I'd like to keep it that way for as long as possible.

Thanks for posting, Fluffy.

[Miller]

*POKE*


You got a link to the APEL by any chance?
Would be a nice resource to stick in this thread.

[Edheler]

Thanks, it was a very interesting read! I am glad that my Revision Sawfly scored well since I just sunk a few dollars in them.

Edit: Revision Sawfly are APEL.

[Miller]

Well dang.....
Maybe if I read my own link a little closer....

http://www.health.mil/Libraries/110808_TCCC_Course_Materials/0504-PEO-Soldier-Authorized-Protective-Eyewear-List-poster-110620.pdf

[slim]

I buy those "el cheapo" jobbies from Harbor Freight all day long since I'm not a tactical operator.

When I am jumping out of helicopters and rappelling down the side of buildings and whatnot, I wear my Oakleys. Almost all Oakleys are ballistics rated and work pretty well at blocking the sun too! I have a few sets of "official issue" goggles and they're all fine. They can usually be picked up on CL for cheap. Keep in mind when wearing tactical operator goggles it's sometimes hard to get an Appleseedesque cheek weld. Additionally, since we're such awesome shooters, we should be able to note the parallax in whatever eyewear we're kitted up with while supporting the mission and make the appropriate sight adjustments. My zero with my Oakleys is different than my zero with my Harbor Freight specials.

Someday, when I get paid for all these tactical ops I've been doing, I'll drop the coin on some clear frames so I get the exact same parallax no matter what glasses I'm wearing!



To sum up - your glasses are just another piece of hardware. Don't sweat them too much.

[Justsomedude]

I got my ESS ICE on eBay for about $40 shipped...3 sets of lenses.
I find them to be more comfortable and easier to see through than the various cheaper glasses I had been using.

[Charles McKinley]

I have a nice nick out of my prescription lenses from a 308 case that hit me while getting out if my sling last weekend.   I liked the Rx insert set up on North safety glasses but the safety lenses didn't have a high enough optical quality.

[SSG Platz]

Oakley makes really good prescription optics. I just wear my oakleys and grew a beard those two things protect my face better than Kevlar!

~PlarzOut~

[Pitmaster]

A couple of years ago I bought a pair of custom prescription shooting glasses from www.safevision.net. My experience was great. I wear bifocals and these were designed to let me focus on the front sight better by lowering the bifocal line a little. When making my choice I wanted them to wrap around my eyes a little to prevent the possibility of something sneaking in through the sides. They also transition to sunglasses when needed. They also talked me out of the mirror finish I wanted because the only purpose of a mirror finish for most people is the cool factor. I'm not conducting undercover surveillance nor am I a secret service agent so I saved myself a few bucks.

About a year later I started fishing and ran into some minor issues with the way the worked specifically for fishing. I called and bought another pair that gave me more distance with just a small area to see up close to tie knots.

Both pair have worked great and stay in their appropriate bag. They were not cheap, but the price was fair. Since I have a flexible benefit plan I was also able to save a few bucks getting reimbursed from that. In some cases vision insurance could pay for part of the cost depending upon your plan.

[yellowhousejake]

I have always been concerned about eyewear since spending a few days in eye patches with a serious conjunctivitis issue. Having doctors discuss the potential damage to your corneas like your not in the room leaves a lasting impression. I won't do Lasik now, I don't care if the odds of problems are a million to one, I've been the one, and I didn't like it.

I looked at the sports glasses the military issues and talked at length with two shooters who had them and they both complained about the height of the glasses in the prone position. Not enough view at the top of the lenses, they were great for three gun comp, but not for three position. Currently I wear my poly prescription glasses under a pair of poly wrap around fishing glasses. It's the best solution I have found.

So what is a 20/250 bifocaled guy to do? I want full view, side protection, and as much impact protection as possible.

YHJ

[olefido]

I hit 45 and my previously super eyesight went downhill. Fast. I got a pair of readers but they didn't help me pick up the front sight on my iron sighted rifle. I got
a pair of bifocals that does a little better but I am still not getting a good sight pic with iron sights. I am tried a scope which does the trick but I run into the
problem mentioned above with the top of my shooting glasses falling across my sight line. I tried using full clear glasses and even wore them upside down on
the bridge of my nose. Can anyone recommend a affordable pair of glasses that solve this problem?

[posterboy]

Ebay is your friend in this case

you can find ess and Revisons new from $20-$40 you can also find a used prescript insert for another $10 ( throw it in the dishwasher .viola ). For basically $50 or less  you can have good prescrip safety eyeware set up. Of course you'll pay to get the lenses for the insert which isn't cheap but my eyes are priceless . The beauty of the set up is you can get replacement shields  when yours get scratched.



here is an extensive review of various .mil systems:

http://www.militarymorons.com/equipment/eyewear.html

[Pitmaster]

So what is a 20/250 bifocaled guy to do? I want full view, side protection, and as much impact protection as possible.

YHJ,

Give the guy at www.safevision.net a call. He will spend time answering your questions about various options. He is also a shooter who understands our various needs. I would  bet he could offer you a solution. If cost is an issue and you have a flexible benefit plan you can run reimbursement through that. Prescription eyewear meets that need and in some circumstances they might be tax deductible as a business expense.

[olefido]

 If anybody gets to Sparta, IL during the ATA Grand Nationals(that's the only time I know he might be there???), there is an optometrist who has an office there
in one of the vendor buildings. I am sure he could hook you up with something. I don't know how much it would be although I can imagine which is the reason
I haven't tried him out.

[mj52]

This afternoon,

I was practicing missing as close as possible at 50 yards from prone with a 22. I was the only one at the range.

Targets were at 2 o'clock +/-.

I saw/felt something hit me very, very lightly on my chest. I really thought someone has thrown a small rock or an acorn at me.

Reached under my belly and found a mangled hunk of lead.

Bill Nye "the Science Guy" would have a hard time describing how a round fired at 2 o'clock ricocheted straight back hit the ground to the left of the shooter and came to rest under that same shooter.


I was trying to figure out how to relate this story when I found this thread. Eye protection can not be empathised too much.

The round is currently on Ebay for $5999.99

[Psych Doc]

Thanks for the info. This thread caused me to seriously reconsider my eye pro. After chekcing out the Lucky Gunner info I decided to put out for the Revision Sawflys. So far I like them, they work well in all AS shooting positions. I will be trying them at an AS shoot this weekend for the first time and expect to be pleased.