PC correct answer?

[NE Bull]

I was just wondering, is it politically correct when asked "What brings you in here for your first ever eye exam?" to answer, "Well, Doc, I just can't seem to focus on the front site anymore, and if I aim to be competetive this season....." or could have went with  "....if I am ever involved in a Critical Defense Incident, I...."   

[WarHorse1961]

That's about as politically correct as my Doc telling me "It's 'cuz you're old!" when I said "I can't see my front sight" to him. 

[Wesley D]

My wife would see you.  And she'd probably ask whether you're having trouble with your handguns or longer sight radius long guns.  Actually, she just told me that she gets that question a lot, but of course it's always from patients who are 45+... Zing!   

[Mudinyeri]

When I went in for my Lasik surgery consultation, I told them I was very concerned about being able to maintain my shooting accuracy.  The doc was in the Reserves so he understood.  The nurse ... maybe not so much. 

[bkoenig]

I'm getting there myself.  That front sight is getting harder and harder to see.  Aperture rear sights help a lot, but I'm still getting worse.  I think I need to look into Lasik to fix my distance vision and then get reading glasses for up close.  Otherwise I'm going to need bifocals one of these days.

[NE Bull]

How 'bout today when I was shopping for new work boots;  "do ya'll have this in black with a built in holster for a LCP?"  Ok I didn't really say it, but the thought crossed my mind, the kid gave me a quizical look when I chuckled to myself.

[sparky]

Just be aware about the Lasik guys, I had it done and about 6 years later I'm dependent on glasses again.  My eye doctor said they are finding this very common.

[Wesley D]

Lasik fixes nearsidedness (distance). When you have that corrected, you'll still need readers for close up at about age 40 (some earlier, some later). It's biology.

Koenig, if you have Lasik, consider asking them to not correct all of your nearsidedness away (like oif you're 5 units nearsided, have them correct 4 units and leave you 1 unit of nearsidedness) and you'll be able to go longer before you need readers. Mindy can tell you more about it if you're interested.

[sparky]

Lasik fixes nearsidedness (distance). When you have that corrected, you'll still need readers for close up at about age 40 (some earlier, some later). It's biology.

Koenig, if you have Lasik, consider asking them to not correct all of your nearsidedness away (like oif you're 5 units nearsided, have them correct 4 units and leave you 1 unit of nearsidedness) and you'll be able to go longer before you need readers. Mindy can tell you more about it if you're interested.

I had a astigmatism (hope thats how its spelled) and nearsighted, could have used that info 6 years ago. 

[Wesley D]

I had a astigmatism (hope thats how its spelled) and nearsighted, could have used that info 6 years ago. 

Yeah, some eye docs are better than others.  The better ones take a little extra time to fully explain procedures and options to their patients. 

[FarmerRick]

I have 20/20 in one eye and 20/15 in the other. As the song goes, "I can see for miles and miles..."   

But, up-close is getting fuzzy now that I'm almost 44 1/2 years old. 

Thank goodness Menards sells reading glasses by the 3-pack for $4.99.  They're mighty stylish too.   

[NE Bull]

Isn't this little forum great?  Even the goofy (S&G) posts end up being very informative.

[bkoenig]

Good to know.  I fully expect to need reading glasses for close up no matter what.  My nearsightedness is fully correctable with contacts or glasses - my prescription hasn't changed in about 20 years.  Anything closer than arms length I can't see anymore unless I look over my glasses or take out my contacts.  It makes doing anything detailed a real pain, like inspecting brass while reloading.  I would be ok with reading glasses, I just don't want to have to deal with bifocals.  I've heard they can really screw up shooting.

[sidearm1]

Had Lasiks' in 2001.  Dr. told me right upfront that it did not stop the aging process and that eventually I would need reading glasses.  2012 no glasses yet, but if and when I do, I will know that is what I was told.

[SemperFiGuy]

FWIW.............

Dr. Bill Schlichtemeier specializes in Lasik eye surgery in the Omaha area.   He's also been an International Olympics Competition Shooter and currently shoots out of the Weeping Water Gun Club.

If you've watched ordinary bifocal handgun shooters, you've seen them shoot with their heads drawn back and--usually--with their mouths open.    Which is a pretty un-natural shooting stance.   Not to mention kinda ugly.

Dr. S prescribed for me a set of bifocal glasses with the farsighted lens at the top, not the bottom, of the shooting eye side (right hand, for me).   The bifocal-on-top arrangement allows the handgun shooter to use the normal forward body-and-head lean into the sights, rather than tilting back away from them.

This setup brings both front and rear sights on my handguns into sharp, clear focus.    Now--at the same time, the actual target downrange is Really Fuzzy.   But--all you gotta do is shoot into the middle of the fuzz.

Works pretty darn good.


sfg