Varilux Lenses for the Handgunner

Shoots Left · December 19, 2024, 11:51 PM

Like many here my vision has slowly degraded through the years along with my shooting accuracy (a couple of rotator cuff surgeries haven’t helped either). When I go to the range I shoot handguns exclusively. I’ve been wearing progressive eyeglasses for close to 10 years now. It seemed like when I first went with progressives my shooting improved somewhat but it seems that now my groups are loosening up once again.

I’m going to get my eyeglass prescription updated after the New Year and I have a question for anyone who wears or knows someone who wears eyeglasses with the Varilux lenses. I’m going to splurge and upgrade to the Varilux lenses when I do get my new eyes. I’m curious if these lenses have a positive, negative or neutral effect on one’s performance with a handgun.

Thanks in advance for any insight (no pun intended) on the matter.

Jim Watson · December 20, 2024, 11:11 AM

I wear Varilux lenses on the street but my shooting glasses are monovision distance-intermediate.

You can tell the Varilux pistol shooter by the way he bobs his head to find the sweet spot for his sights.

jetinteriorguy · December 21, 2024, 07:52 AM

For me transition lenses aren’t a big issue when shooting pistols, but getting the proper cheek weld on a scoped rifle is a little tricky sometimes. I do practice shooting pistols without prescription lenses for emergency situations just in case and am not too bad out to seven yds, it’s blurry as heck but once you get the sight picture right it’s effective enough for SD, almost like point shooting.

December 19, 2024, 11:51 PM	#1
Shoots Left Senior Member Join Date: November 22, 2024 Location: Southeast Texas Posts: 119	Varilux Lenses for the Handgunner Like many here my vision has slowly degraded through the years along with my shooting accuracy (a couple of rotator cuff surgeries haven’t helped either). When I go to the range I shoot handguns exclusively. I’ve been wearing progressive eyeglasses for close to 10 years now. It seemed like when I first went with progressives my shooting improved somewhat but it seems that now my groups are loosening up once again. I’m going to get my eyeglass prescription updated after the New Year and I have a question for anyone who wears or knows someone who wears eyeglasses with the Varilux lenses. I’m going to splurge and upgrade to the Varilux lenses when I do get my new eyes. I’m curious if these lenses have a positive, negative or neutral effect on one’s performance with a handgun. Thanks in advance for any insight (no pun intended) on the matter.

December 20, 2024, 11:11 AM	#2
Jim Watson Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2001 Location: Alabama Posts: 19,155	I wear Varilux lenses on the street but my shooting glasses are monovision distance-intermediate. You can tell the Varilux pistol shooter by the way he bobs his head to find the sweet spot for his sights.

December 21, 2024, 07:52 AM	#3
jetinteriorguy Senior Member Join Date: April 28, 2013 Posts: 3,464	For me transition lenses aren’t a big issue when shooting pistols, but getting the proper cheek weld on a scoped rifle is a little tricky sometimes. I do practice shooting pistols without prescription lenses for emergency situations just in case and am not too bad out to seven yds, it’s blurry as heck but once you get the sight picture right it’s effective enough for SD, almost like point shooting.