Thread: Looking for a Good Shooting Optometrist

Hey Folks,

I have astigmatism in both eyes, plus short sight in left and long sight in right. I recently visited a local optometrist and was not impressed with them at all. Can anyone recommend a good optometrist with knowledge or experience in shooting sports? Auckland area would be ideal.

I can't get laser surgery, something to do with my eye shape.

Cheers

There used to be a guy in Cambridge that the smallbore shooters used

I had problems over Covid got ripped by an optician, ended up going to an optician Murray Rogers at the Mount, fixed my problems.
Older guy, at 257 Maunganui Road

Anyone know of someone decent in Wellington?

Went to the Eye clinic in Remuera rd to get a cataract removed 2 yrs ago...Told Dr I was a shooter of both rifles and scatter guns. He tested my eyes, asked a lot of questions about hunting/shooting to get an idea of what would work, then said that after the removal my eyesight would be better than it has ever been. Up until then I had worn glasses all my life ( Due to a lazy eye etc). He replaced the lense in my right eye. After the 2 days with a patch over my eye I went back for a checkup and eyesight test........
20/20 vision and dont need glasses anymore.... am now 70 and take great delight in pointing out deer to my hunting buddies without the aid of bino's.
Dr Ring was the eye specialist I saw.
Best $4500 I ever spent.....

Originally Posted by makka

Anyone know of someone decent in Wellington?

https://blackgatesoptometrists.co.nz/

I found this crowd good - went to the Hutt one, can't vouch for the Jville branch

Stay away from SpecSavers, you will come away more confused then when you went it.
I have been wearing glasses/contacts all my life, my missus convinced me to change from my reqular optician (AA members get free eye exams).
There conclusions were wishy washy yes you need need new glasses and I got the impression they really wanted me to buy new glasses or a couple pairs.
Walked out and went straight back to the place I usually go. Another exam, with conclusion "if we were doing a new pair your prescription would change very slightly but you really would not notice the difference".

Agree with Mikee's comment above. Don't bother with specsavers or OPSM, go to a proper optometrist. Last time I went to OPSM thinking they might be a step up from specsavers, the optometrist actually said i should go to an independent optometrist as OPSM couldn't get corrected sunglasses working for me and he said they were not set up to test your eyes in low light.

It was OPSM in Papakura that I visited and the woman clearly didn't give a flying fuck about her job.

I have also been to the Eye Institute in Remuera (and they were excellent) to see if I can get laser. I cant, but can get the operation where they cut your eyeball open and insert a permanent contact lens. I have spoken to many people who have had this procedure and they love it, but I just cant get past the cutting eyeballs open part and the risk of infection. I may summon the courage some day.

Ill find an actual optometrist, may have better luck with them.

Originally Posted by 308

https://blackgatesoptometrists.co.nz/

I found this crowd good - went to the Hutt one, can't vouch for the Jville branch

That works, I'm in the hutt anyway

Originally Posted by SixtyTen

It was OPSM in Papakura that I visited and the woman clearly didn't give a flying fuck about her job.

I have also been to the Eye Institute in Remuera (and they were excellent) to see if I can get laser. I cant, but can get the operation where they cut your eyeball open and insert a permanent contact lens. I have spoken to many people who have had this procedure and they love it, but I just cant get past the cutting eyeballs open part and the risk of infection. I may summon the courage some day.

Ill find an actual optometrist, may have better luck with them.

I’ve had laser done there and my mate has had the lense transplant. Both of us are stoked with the outcome. If you’re worried about potential complications, just get one eye done at a time. Worth the risk in my opinion, you’ll find it life changing.

Its been a fair few years since I got fitted for shooting glasses. I did go to the guy in Cambridge who has already been mentioned. I can't remember the exact details of shooting glasses prescriptions but I do know that it is quite different to a normal prescription. So the best bit of advice I can give you is find someone who actually does know about the peculiarities of shooting glasses. Not sure what discipline you shoot but if it is any interest I have a Knobloch shooting glass frame with a lens holder which I no longer need. Let me know if its of interest to you.
I just had another think about this. I do remember that the difference in a shooting lens compared to a normal lens is the focus distance requires. i.e. the front sight. If the Optomotrist doesn't know about this walk away.

Vision care in Paeroa, owner is a shooter, good service

Birkenhead optometrists in highbury mall are good.

Originally Posted by Allgood

He replaced the lense in my right eye. After the 2 days with a patch over my eye I went back for a checkup and eyesight test........
20/20 vision and dont need glasses anymore.... am now 70 and take great delight in pointing out deer to my hunting buddies without the aid of bino's.
Dr Ring was the eye specialist I saw.
Best $4500 I ever spent.....

Wow, I've never heard of this before. I have astigmatism in both eyes too. I got by for years without dealing with it, but when I started hunting I realised I needed way better vision than with the water sports I do.

I've only been to Spec Savers, I really need to see a proper optometrist.

Does any one have recommendations for someone in Canterbury?