Do you wear glasses for hunting?

[slancey]

Maybe this belongs in the gear forum.

I have worn shooting glasses that have prescription lenses, both clear and bronze tint, on my hunting outings, and no glasses on others. On the one hand, the corrective lenses seem to give me better focus on far away objects, but they get in the way of comfortable glassing, going back and forth from binocular to spotter. I also wonder what things I'm missing in the blind spots the frames create. And they are just another thing that can get lost or in the way hanging around my neck. I'm undecided about whether to take them out again. It sounds like a simple decision, but it's not for me.

What do you guys do?

 

[Back Country Hunter 2]

I always bring sunglasses. They are a cheap pair from Walmart that has minimal glare. I figure if I lose them, then they are easily replaceable. I like having them for the middle of the day during archery if I'm hiking and anytime the sun is shining when there is snow on the ground. I keep them in a "lightweight" hard case so they don't get broken when I'm not wearing them.

 

[Molon Labe]

I would suggest Lasik surgery if you do a lot of back country hunting.
Dealing with contacts and/or glasses is something that you should try to eliminate.
I did the surgery a few months before I did a month long hunting trip and it was an amazing decision.

The cost offsets after about 7 years. Average person spends $350/year on eyes if you have prescription.
That includes glasses every 2-3 years and all the contact lenses plus yearly checkups.
Lasik can be had for $2000-3000. Well worth the investment.

It is horrible waking up in the morning dirty hands, ice cold lenses, stinging and irritation...
Then if you have a fall or tree branch breaks your prescription glasses you are out of luck...and an extra pair is extra weight.
Teddy Roosevelt would carry something like 6 pairs of glasses with him...one sewn into his hat...funny.

I do carry lightweight polarized sunglasses though to protect against the sun and tree branches etc.

 

[elkguide]

Lasik for me. Did it more than 20 years ago and it was the best money that I have ever spent.

 

[Michiganhunter]

I wear glasses for distance and I don’t like wearing them looking through binos. I’ve never wore contacts they seem like a lot of maintenance that I don’t want to do. The dr said if I got lasik then I would need reading glasses because I’m over 40 and vison usually deteriorates with age. I do like to be able to read without glasses so I’ll just keep wearing glasses when I need them.

 

[austinphps]

I wear my contacts - and don't take them out while in the field. I bring a back-up pair and my glasses just in case. I'll admit - they are a PITA. They get 'sticky' especially if you have a campfire going - they can get blurry after sleeping. Taking them out with dirty hands isn't the best option, but that's why I bring my glasses. If I need to dump them cause they are causing so much issues - I'll just toss em.
I'm currently looking into Lasik as others have stated. Have a consultation next week.

 

[deerhunter628]

Not to hijack the thread, but has anybody heard of a problem with eye dominance with lasik? Im considering getting it, but am worried about the possibility of screwing up my eye dominance. Right now im right handed and right eye dominate. I dont want to come out left eye dominate. Maybe a stupid thought but it has me worried.

 

[bwlacy]

Been wearing glasses for about 25 years now and they are a pain. This year I'll probably need bifocals. I'm not sure how that is going to work for shooting. Glasses suck in the rain, can fog up with the wrong mask, get dirty, you need binos with at least 17mm or more eye relief, etc...

But Lasik scares the crap out of me and haven't looked into it. I really would like not wearing glasses in the field, especially on back pack hunts for 10 days!

I can see well enough up close that I could bow hunt with out them, but wouldn't be able to see any distance. If mine get broken I always have an extra pair in the truck and could shoot with out them.

 

[Owenst7]

I've met three people in the last year that had failed Lasik. My next door neighbor for 25 years is an eye surgeon and warns against Lasik. Be careful with your vision.

I bring glasses typically but will do contacts for short trips. I'm probably going to switch to daily throwaways for this season since I don't wear contacts much and the cost won't be significant.

 

[Flyrod]

Had laser correction last summer.....
I feel so stupid for not doing it sooner.
No more contacts in the backcountry!
Yes I need readers as I’m over 40. But I needed them when I wore contacts, so nothing has really changed.

 

[Shraggs]

I'm still holding off on lasik. Still wear glasses. Outside of hunting I use a progressive. For hunting I use single line bifocal set real low to maximize distance viewing.

Switched to a brand called F8, a safety type looking glass with a strap that can withstand a basket ball hit in the head! They look like what you see nba guys wearing. They wrap real close to the head and actually allow me to view optics easier cause they don't stick out far, i.e. Not pushing my glasses into my head. I can easily use binoculars down as low as 16mm without removing them.

 

[bwlacy]

I'm still holding off on lasik. Still wear glasses. Outside of hunting I use a progressive. For hunting I use single line bifocal set real low to maximize distance viewing.

Switched to a brand called F8, a safety type looking glass with a strap that can withstand a basket ball hit in the head! They look like what you see nba guys wearing. They wrap real close to the head and actually allow me to view optics easier cause they don't stick out far, i.e. Not pushing my glasses into my head. I can easily use binoculars down as low as 16mm without removing them.

Hmm I might have to look into those!

 

[willidru]

I wear as set of lightly tinted Pilla's to hunt with they are great except at first and last light which makes a huge difference. I also have a set of clear Rx that I bring. I don't like the FOV through my optics with glasses so I end up taking on and off when glassing. Glasses also can fog up. Contacts and me don't get along. Generally I have dry eyes and the contact will end up rolled up in the back of my head somewhere. Sucks if your in the back country and have to wait 4 days to get home and have the wife pull it out.

 

[skaldugwas]

I can get by wearing the same set of contacts for three days before they get annoying. So I usually pack a spare set or two.
I alwats bring sunglasses with me for the obvious reason and when brush busting so I don’t gave to worry about the old stick in the eye situation. I can travel alot faster through the brush when I don’t have to protect my face.

 

[tommymo]

Wear contacts, bring back ups, and my glasses in a case as a last resort.