Eye dominance solutions are many and varied, with even greater variations in effectiveness! Has Drennan found the one that works with the Evolution Strike EDK?
I’m no optometrist, I’ll leave that to the master of vision, Ed Lyons, but I do have two eyes and, like a lot of shooters, at times I have issues with the old mince pies. Much of the time the issue lies dormant, but when it does rear its ugly head, it comes on quicker than a jet plane and can stay with me longer than an unwanted lodger.
The problem? I’m a right-handed shooter with a right master/dominant eye. So, God created me with the ability to shoot with both eyes open. This sounds great, and it is most of the time… but on occasion, with no warning, my left eye will decide to take over. This pulls the picture my brain sees from the gun to the target into a confusing configuration that frankly requires a supercomputer to calculate!
Problems arise for shooters when the dominant eye is not the same as the dominant hand – in other words, if you shoot right-handed but you have a left master eye, you will find yourself in a bit of a pickle. This means that with both eyes open, the shooter may see two barrels, two targets, or will be looking down the left side of the barrel (the opposite applying for the left-handed shooter that is right eye dominant).
The Evolution Strike EDK is designed to help overcome eye dominance problems like those detailed above. It does this by using a Category 4 super-dark lens on the dominant eye (the “off eye”). This dark lens has a 4.4% VLT (visible light transmittance) – that is, it only lets in 4.4 % of visible light, blocking 95% of light reaching the eye. The other lens, in front of the non-dominant eye (the one that, in an ideal world, WOULD be your dominant eye!) can be either clear or yellow using interchangeable lenses. It means that the shooter can keep both eyes open, maintaining vision through the dark lens, while the non-dominant eye, looking through the clear or yellow lens, should take over. It’s an ingenious solution – and a very simple one that no one else has thus far come up with.
Other features of the Strike EDK model include: a matte black frame, a lightweight but super strong TR90 frame, impact resistant, shatterproof polycarbonate lenses (comply with EN166f), a full wrap fit for maximum eye protection, non-slip temples, adjustable nose pads, simple and quick lens changing, and a UV400 rating.
The kit comes with the dark grey Category 4 lens and optional clear and yellow lenses for the other eye, plus a soft carry pouch, cleaning cloth and hard case. A pair of Category 4 dark grey lenses is provided in the kit, so the user has the option of also wearing a pair of dark tinted sunglasses. But please note – category 4 lenses are not to be used for driving!
For my own low-level, intermittent eye dominance issues, this was a neat and easy-to-wear solution. I also have a pupil who has consistent cross dominance – a fairly common issue for female shooters – and she was amazed at how much the system helped her. She has tried other eye dominance solutions in the past, and often found them distracting, preferring instead to just shut the off-eye… however, this caused its own issues with depth perception and, occasionally, confusion over which eye to close in the heat of the moment! For the first time, with the Evolution Strike EDK, she felt she was able to shoot most of the targets with both eyes open. She is going to continue to work with the glasses and report back to me on her progress.
All in all, first impressions are excellent. Well done Evolution for providing an affordable and effective solution!
RRP: £34.95 (available in right- and left-handed spec)
sunglassesforsport.com