I have tried and just can't shoot with my glasses on, but the balls are clearer to me when I wear them, especially on long shots. They fall off my nose and I see over the top of them. Shooting from a low bent over position and being 6' 3" is part of the problem with the glasses. I have been thinking about trying contacts. Are any of you wearing contacts when you shoot pool and do you think you shoot better with them ?
Contact lenses for pool ?
- Thread starter Ak Guy
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Agree with you completely - glasses are a pain in the ass. I actually lost mine in July and have been without my glasses for coming up on half of a year now. Thankfully with a pool table I only have some light fuzziness at the other end of the table (not the worst vision, but not great - doesn't help that I lost my dominant eye in a pistol-whipping a decade ago), so it isn't a killer for me.... but I'd rather see clearly, obviously. But the down side is - once I get a new pair I know it'll be back to having to adjust them constantly to avoid peering over the top, or lining up shots and having to re-adjust them so the top rim isn't halfway through my line of sight, and so on.
Glasses are annoying as hell when shooting pool.
Glasses are annoying as hell when shooting pool.
I have run across these neoprene things that slip onto the ear pieces of your glasses. They hold your glasses perfectly where you want them without slipping down your nose. They work amazingly well as advertised. They are called Wedgees and are cheap. Check them out on Amazon. Great for pool and anything else.
Actually I began wearing contacts, decades ago, due mainly for the problems you outline on the pool table. Give them a try ... once you "free" yourself of your glasses you'll wonder why you waited so long! Good luck.
If you get contacts, get some that work for you from about 2-12 feet. My eye doctor is actually a pool player, and knew exactly what I needed. I am like the other poster above, put them in to play pool, and no more fuzzy edges. Take them out when I get home.
Getting contacts was one of the best decisions I ever made for my pool game! Not having to deal with glasses makes it much more enjoyable.
I wear glasses day to day and I'd rather play without them than use them to play pool, fuzzy edges of the balls and all. I play with my chin on the cue, so struggle not to look over the frames. I wear contacts for pool and they work just fine. Standard disposables. One thing I would advise is to put them in 30 minutes or so (at least) before you play, especially if you wear glasses normally. It takes my eyes a little while to adjust to the lenses.
Anyone playing in contacts with astigmatism? I have pretty severe astigmatism in both eyes which affects my depth perception. Without my glasses the table looks like a cardboard cut out. I've heard that contacts for astigmatism need to "reseat" every time you blink. This is why I've been hesitant to try contacts
Ben
Ben
After hard/gas perm lenses for 30yrs, and playing pool longer,, I had to switch to soft because of an eye condition.
My experiences are only mine and reflect nobody else.
I am nearsighted (-4.50 & -3.75), slight astigmatism in right eye and also need weak reading glasses (which I never carried).
1. I tried monovision,, (1 near, 1 distance),,, tried using each eye as near and distance.
Eye Dr. said I would notice during driving and maybe other things if my dominant eye was not used with distance. I didn't notice any difference.
2. Both for distance.
3. Toric lens for eye with astigmatism and aspheric in other.
4. Multifocal (for near, mid and distance) in both eyes. No adjustment issues for me.
For me, as long as 1 eye had a distance lens, the table was clear and crisp edge on the balls. I didn't notice any depth perception issues anytime.
I must be one of the lucky ones and I could have gotten used to any of the options but I decided to go with multifocal as it provided distance and very acceptable (not quite as good as reading glasses) up real close.
Glasses - Always hated them. One of my team members has a pair of glasses he puts on specifically for playing pool. The side pieces sit lower on the lens frame and the lenses are at least 1/2" taller than normal so even bent over, he is still seeing through the lens with no frame obstruction.
To the person asking about astigmatism lens - I only noticed the lens move 1or 2 times in the 2 months I tried it. Couple blinks and it was normal again.
They do make multifocal for astigmatism but I think they are made of gold by their price!
Good luck with your choice and I hope it works out well.
My experiences are only mine and reflect nobody else.
I am nearsighted (-4.50 & -3.75), slight astigmatism in right eye and also need weak reading glasses (which I never carried).
1. I tried monovision,, (1 near, 1 distance),,, tried using each eye as near and distance.
Eye Dr. said I would notice during driving and maybe other things if my dominant eye was not used with distance. I didn't notice any difference.
2. Both for distance.
3. Toric lens for eye with astigmatism and aspheric in other.
4. Multifocal (for near, mid and distance) in both eyes. No adjustment issues for me.
For me, as long as 1 eye had a distance lens, the table was clear and crisp edge on the balls. I didn't notice any depth perception issues anytime.
I must be one of the lucky ones and I could have gotten used to any of the options but I decided to go with multifocal as it provided distance and very acceptable (not quite as good as reading glasses) up real close.
Glasses - Always hated them. One of my team members has a pair of glasses he puts on specifically for playing pool. The side pieces sit lower on the lens frame and the lenses are at least 1/2" taller than normal so even bent over, he is still seeing through the lens with no frame obstruction.
To the person asking about astigmatism lens - I only noticed the lens move 1or 2 times in the 2 months I tried it. Couple blinks and it was normal again.
They do make multifocal for astigmatism but I think they are made of gold by their price!
Good luck with your choice and I hope it works out well.
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This is exactly what I did, and after about a good ten hours at the table, I will never shoot without them. There is a little adjusting, but after that you'll probably wish you would of done this a long time ago. My biggest adjustment, was cut shots....everything was just a little left of my target.
I wear the dailies, instead of the 2 week contacts. the dailies are just a little thinner, just ask your doctor to give you both to try.
I've never heard that one, but I would need this type of contact. I'll be waiting for an answer with you. I stand up over the balls and my glasses don't get in the way so either way is fine with me.
I look over my lenses when I shoot. I line up the shot through my glasses but I would have to think that seeing the shot well the entire time could only improve things
Ben
I have the same exact style of glasses and changed my stance because of them.
Nike and Bausch & Lomb used to make sport contacts to help your vision in discerning the edges of the ball in games like baseball and soccer. Would be amazing for pool. I don't know if they still make them.
Cigarettes
I tried em years ago, but the cigarette smoke made me go back to glasses. My eyes couldn't handle the two together.
I tried em years ago, but the cigarette smoke made me go back to glasses. My eyes couldn't handle the two together.
JC
Coos Cues
I am far sighted only and got extended wear contacts. Pool is way more fun when you can see. I took home several samples of lenses close to my needs but slightly different and tried each one until I found the ones best for pool. Your eye doctor should facilitate this. They get the samples for free.
JC
JC
Thank GOD for contact lenses; i wear the 30 days extended wear contacts, best way to go, no need to dig into your eyes every day, just once a month, and in my case i have allowed up to three months without any effect.
I use AIR_OPTIX_NIGHT AND DAY_AQUA_
Attachments
I have tried many lenses, and these for me just blow the rest out of the water. Very comfortable, and perfect vision...
http://www.acuvue.com/products-acuvue-1day-trueye
http://www.acuvue.com/products-acuvue-1day-trueye
I think for a new person, the 30 day extended wear (if it works for him) is best, again, depends on the eye if it is naturally wet eye should have no problem, if dry eye he will have issues with the extended ones.