I learned my vision was less than perfect when I took a physical for the Naval Academy. The optician said, "Well, you won't be flying for the Navy." And thus ended my Naval "career." Ever since, I wear glasses to drive per the Commonwealth of Virginia, and to see anything in detail from a distance, like a blackboard in school. I never wear my prescription lenses to shoot, however, because my glasses offer nothing in the way of ballistic protection. Brass can easily get around the frames and the lenses themselves might shatter if hit by spall. That's all well and good at 7 yards, where my vision is not particularly impaired, but for shooting a rifle over iron sights or even a handgun at 25 yards, well, let's just say the guns shoot better than I can.
Thanks to Revision Eyewear, this is no longer a problem. The company's Rx Carrier is merely a plastic frame of normal eyeglasses-size that snaps into a wide range of the Revision ballistic eyewear products. I tested the Rx Carrier in the Sawfly-TX Kit, which is a set of standard shooting glasses with clear, tinted and amber lens inserts, and in Desert Locust shooting goggles. Transferring the Rx Carrier between the two is remarkably simple—it just snaps into a slot on the bridge of each. What is remarkable is the difference being able to clearly see your target makes on the range. That might sound obvious, but if you're like me and avoid wearing your prescription glasses when shooting, using the Rx Carrier will be a revelation.
Revision offers prescription fulfillment, but I chose to test the company's claim that any licensed optician could provide lenses for the Rx Carrier. The claim is true. I dropped the Carrier off at a local shop and had it back the same day with my prescription lenses securely mounted inside the frame. A quick snap into the Sawfly system, and I make out detail better than ever on a silhouette target at 50 yards. I didn't even need to switch to a spotting scope to see bullet holes at this range, which was a much welcome development.
As for the ballistic protection, I have yet to encounter any problem where these shooting glasses would save my sight, but the military lists the Sawfly, Desert Locust and Rx Carrier as authorized protective eyewear. If it's good enough for guys in the sandbox, it's good enough for desk pilots like me.
I guess I got to fly something after all.
