A few weeks ago I discussed the importance of protecting one’s hearing from loud noise such as gunfire. Well, the same can be said for protecting one’s eyesight. Here are some thoughts I passed on to you in a previous column. Spring has finally arrived and many of us will be returning to our favorite gun ranges; please take care of your vision.

We have bifocal, meaning two eyes, vision. Loss of part or all of our vision in one or both eyes can be catastrophic for enjoying life. I can’t count the number of times on the gun range I have suggested to shooters the need for wearing eye protection. I usually keep a couple pair of safety glasses in my shooting bag and I give these to young shooters whenever the need arises. These “gifts” also include a somewhat short, but stern lecture to the parent or guardian about the absolute need for eye protection while at the gun range whether shooting or not.

There are many options to protect our eyes. As I mentioned above, I carry spare safety glasses. These can be found at hardware and home improvement stores for 2 to 3 bucks a pair, and some are even designed to be worn over one’s prescription glasses. For such a small amount of money it’s foolish not to take advantage of their benefits.

Moving up to a little more fashionable option, I suggest trying polycarbonate lens equipped shooting glasses. These are available at most sporting goods stores and major retailers and come in many colors for use in differing light. The one that works best for me in most light conditions is amber or what we shotgunners call “light target orange.” I also use violet in soft light and dark purple when the sun is bright. The cost of these range from 10 to around 30 dollars.

Finally for the shooter who spends a great deal of time at the range there are custom frame and lens makers. Some of the companies that come to mind are Decot, Randolph, Rudy Project, Oakley, and a personal favorite, Post 4 Optics of Lewiston, Idaho. There are many frame and lens styles available in an incredible number of colors. The cost of these systems usually start at around $100.00 and the price increases depending on how many lenses and prescriptions are added

I used a pair of Decot frames and lenses for about 10 years and now I have a pair of Post 4 Optics style frames that I have used for about 3 years. These have lenses that can be changed in about a minute enabling me to compensate for varying light conditions. I have two sets of lenses; purple for bright sunny days, and violet for dull or overcast days. I use these in clay target tourneys. It is hard to describe how much brighter the orange targets seem, especially with the purple lenses. I have red fiber optic front sights on some of my competition pistols and I have found the violet lenses aid me in picking up the sight. My eyesight has deteriorated over time and about 6 years ago I started buying my lenses from Mike Rinard of Post 4 Optics. He personally grinds each lens and he does a terrific job. He also has complete shooting glasses packages available. Contact Mike at http://post4sportglasses.com/.

A long time ago I was shooting a .22 semi-auto pistol; I wasn’t wearing eye protection. This was a blow-back design and after firing a few rounds, I was hit in the eye with a hot spark when the case was ejected. It really hurt and I swore I would never fire a gun again without eye protection. Please take my advice and always wear shooting glasses. You can learn from my “school of hard knocks,” cover your eyes!

Be safe and good shooting.
Colonel Smoothbore