Age, the eye, and how to compensate.

Age, the eye, and how to compensate.

If, like myself, you find you are now eligible for SAGA holidays and are considering a cruise rather than an overseas tour, give me a moment of your time and I will try and explain why your sight picture is more elusive these days, and what we can do to compensate for it.

Age related changes within the eye affect everyone, to varying degrees, and can make significant changes to your sight picture, your accuracy, and hence your enjoyment of shooting: The crystalline lens inside the eye continues to grow and change shape throughout life – this only really becomes apparent to most people in their 40’s, when focusing on things close can become difficult. Time for your first reading glasses? Also, the colour of the lens becomes browner, meaning contrast sensitivity reduces and acuity in low light will deteriorate. However slight at this stage, this is progressive, and can eventually develop into a cataract (i.e.) the formation of opacities in the lens structure, mostly in the 60’s and 70’s.

Potential Problems

The inability to change focus from far to near (like you used to be able to) means that the aperture settings of the front and rear sights will need to be changed from those that have served so well for decades! The rear sight needs to be as small as possible, in order to increase depth of focus (have the foresight and target both as close to in focus as possible). This can be counter intuitive, as going bigger lets more light in and makes the picture look clearer: Beware; this is the most common catastrophic error!

My method is to close down the rear aperture, whilst on aim, until the sight picture goes dark and cobwebby - this is too small, now come back up in size very slowly until the cobwebby appearance disappears but it is still a little darker than you would like: This is the correct setting. The actual size will depend on eye relief, altitude and brightness, pupil size, etc, but will probably be around 0.7 to 0.9. Using over this size in anything other than very low light is probably a mistake!

If it is difficult to get foresight and target in focus together, a compromise will have to be made. It is much more critical that the foresight is clear and black than you have a crisp target. We have all shot in torrential rain or misty & foggy days, and been surprised to achieve groups difficult to achieve on a clear day! My point being, the eye will centre a fuzzy blob every bit as clearly as a crisp black one, providing the foresight is clear. To this end, if you wear an optical correction, you may want to adjust your prescription to achieve this. If this causes the target to be out of focus, fitting it into the same foresight aperture may no longer be possible: it may be necessary to go bigger, probably at least .2 or more.

As contrast sensitivity in the eye reduces, the size of the pupil in the eye also gets smaller, so considering filters may become an issue. It’s difficult to be proscriptive on this issue as there is a significant element of personal preference. However as a general rule; yellow/pink tints enhance contrast between the aiming mark and its background (particularly in hazy conditions) and grey/green tints will help with glare on sunny & bright days.

As the crystalline lens continues to age, and early opacities develop, you may find that in certain light conditions you find one part of the sight picture is distorted. E.g. The top right edge of the aiming mark, and possibly the foresight ring, are distorted and to see a circular aiming mark you have to look off centre through the rear aperture. Effectively what you are doing is looking around the cataract which is causing the distortion. At this stage the opacity can be so small as to be very difficult for your eyecare consultant to see it, and they will be at a loss as to what the problem is. So what to do? Well, in the longer term, the cataract operation is the most commonly carried out procedure in the UK (and probably in the western world) so it is not something to be scared of. But of course you are going to need specialist and shooting sympathetic advice. In the shorter term the best bet is optical correction and a lot of experimentation.

Age related changes in the eye don’t finish with the lens; floaters become much more common and can be a real nuisance, basically these are bits of debris in the jelly inside the eye (the vitreous humour). These bits cast a shadow on the retina and appear as translucent grey blobs of differing size and shape, more easily seen against a bright background like the target! Try dealing with them by looking down while waiting for your shot. Then when coming on aim, if they are interfering too much to cope with, try looking off to one side and back again: this should move the floaters for long enough to release the shot. Good luck!

Editor’s Note: Moving floaters are far less of a problem, and you may not even notice them if you rapidly flick your eyes from side to side a couple of times: they’ll be moving too fast to really disrupt the sight picture... (Doing this vertically may make the problem worse, though.)

At the back of the eye is the retina and in the central point is the maculae, the bit that has the highest concentration of receptor cells to enable accurate vision, the problem here is that it deteriorates with age. ARMD (age related macular degeneration) is the biggest cause of blindness in the world, and once damaged, it is time to try coaching or range officering.

On this, I can only advise a healthy diet, lots of coloured fruit and veg, lots of anti-oxidants and STOP SMOKING!

What can be done?

So, you’ve been shooting for years and your local optician has given you a lens that helps (if they have adjusted the lens to allow for focusing the foresight, and for the back vertex distance due to eye relief, and for the astigmatism axis due to head posture on aim). But it’s still difficult to make out the 1000 yard number boards and the score indicator board. What next?

Eagle eyes are widely in use now (rightly or wrongly is a subject for a different day!) Will that help? Almost certainly: they can significantly magnify the sight picture (requiring a much larger foresight aperture size) but you’ll feel like a teenager again! You may however have to change the power of the correcting lens (in your shooting glasses or other lens at the back) as over correcting to enable a clear foresight aperture, in conjunction with the low plus power eagle eye lens, will result in an image too blurry to shoot at!

Simply put, if you try an eagle eye (such as the “right sight” or any of the similar, large diameter eagle eyes) and it’s blurry, then it can be improved. However you should also consider the multitude of issues raised by these appliances: they sit higher above the barrel (so the sightline is higher and may require a change to the stock and cheek piece which means the bolt cannot be opened), they increase wind buffeting, and so on it goes… Striving for improvement is never easy!

Now the target is looking clearer, what next? Well, the problem is seeing your plot: the shooting lens is a distance correction, so will you need a reading lens as well? Also, your non shooting eye can’t really make out the flags clearly anymore, so how do we fix that? I use a bifocal lens in the left eye to solve these problems but there is an added benefit, in that by using my left eye for the scope (with a bifocal) I can see the mirage in two parts of the range at the same time! So which is better? Shooting glasses, contact lenses, a lens in the backsight or attached to it, dioptre, eagle eye, laser refractive surgery (now there is another choice!), cataract operation, what’s an ageing shooter to do? All of these options are the best option for someone, but we are all different and for good advice, find a shooting optometrist who understands your needs and can help you compensate for the changes that inevitably come with age. The good news is that most of the difficulties you will encounter can be helped.

Musculoskeletal problems in target rifle shooters

Mr Jonathan Hull MD FRCS(Orth), Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon, Frimley Park Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Camberley & Spire Clare Park Hospital, Crondall. ([email protected])

(Jonathan shoots regularly for Hampshire and was selected for England in the 2010 National match and the European Long Range Championships. He was also a member of the 2011 NRA Channel Islands Team)

Introduction

To my knowledge there are only two orthopaedic surgeons currently shooting target rifle at Bisley. Do the others know something we don’t? There are various musculoskeletal ailments that can either be brought on by shooting, or can hamper one’s performance of the sport, but fortunately these seem to be quite rare – at least they have been until this article has been read by the shooting fraternity! In order to try and help with definition of the words we use, I have put orthopaedic terms in italics and have given an explanation in the text.

I should like to present a fairly light-hearted view of orthopaedic shooting problems and offer some advice on how best to overcome any difficulties they may produce. I am also always happy to offer advice both at Bisley and by e-mail or other means; hopefully you will never need it.

Areas of concern

From an orthopaedic perspective, we think of the human frame as being a central trunk, shoulder and pelvic girdles, and the upper and lower extremities. Although problems may overlap, it is generally easier to describe ailments within these areas. Hopefully, not too many shooters will have multiples aches and pains simultaneously.

Central trunk

The trunk comprises the head, neck, and spine; midline structures, but with paired joints at every level in the spine (48 separate joints, all of which can hurt). Spondylitis is a commonly used term and refers simply to the process of wear and tear arthritis in the joints of the spine; the symptoms of stiffness and pain are common, especially in the lower back when the term lumbago is sometimes used. Sciatica is leg pain caused by pressure of a slipped intervertebral disc in the lower spine; this is usually quite severe and if present, is a good reason not to shoot until it has resolved.

Shoulder

The shoulder joint is a ball and socket surrounded by muscles known as the rotator cuff. These muscles have to pass under the end of the collar-bone and are sometimes squeezed in too tightly causing impingement. This produces pain in the shoulder and can restrict movement considerably, at its extreme leading to a frozen shoulder. Shoulder problems in shooters are quite common and can present with pain, restricted movement and a painful clicking within the joint.

Pelvis

Hip problems are common in general and as we all get older, we are prone to hip stiffness, pain and arthritis. Lying prone can be a problem with hip arthritis and may prevent good positioning. This can stop the shooter adopting the cocked leg position with his right leg, and if affecting the left leg, can stop his pelvis lying flat on the ground.

Elbow

Elbows can be a real cause of trouble for shooters. Pain and swelling over the point of the elbow is known as olecranon bursitis. This is inflammation of the soft tissue cushion which is aggravated by the pressure of lying in the prone position. Other elbow conditions such as golfers elbow and tennis elbow are also not unusual in our sport – these two expressions describe pain from inflammation of the inner and outer sides of the joint.

Olecranon Bursitis                   Painful swelling

Knees and feet

Fortunately we lie down to shoot, and lower limb orthopaedic problems with the exception of hips are usually solved by lying flat. Getting to the correct firing point on time may, however, be an issue for the lame!

Advice and suggestions - Exercises

I cannot provide a comprehensive guide to deal with all potential problems, but I will attempt to offer some particular advice for some of the common orthopaedic ailments affecting those who shoot.

Warm ups

It is very sensible to spend a few minutes warming up each time you shoot. Just as cats and dogs stretch when they first get up after a sleep, we ought to do so after resting, especially as we get older. Joints need to move and putting the major joints through a full range of movement is always useful.

The following was written by Jackie Davies who was team physiotherapist for the GB Palma Team before emigrating to Canada (reproduced with permission):

“The method of stretching hasn’t changed much in the last 30 years, with the general consensus being that a stretch should be held for a minimum of 20 seconds (30 seconds preferable) and repeated at least 3 times. To maintain flexibility, the stretching should be done once daily. To improve flexibility, stretching should be done at least twice if not three times daily.

Stretching should be targeted at the correct structure (most commonly a muscle or a group of muscles) and should not be painful. If done well, the sensation should start as a light pull, which should ease off during the 30 seconds and allow further application of the pull (leaning more into the stretch). After stretching, the body part should feel more supple. However, this may last only a short time initially. To achieve permanent lengthening, research suggests that it can take 6 weeks of targeted stretching.”

(As in most things orthopaedic, physiotherapists usually know more than surgeons, and Jackie certainly understands the issues facing rifle shooters.)

Spine

Anyone who has suffered with back pain and has seen a physiotherapist for it will know what exercises to do and what good effect they can have. For the amateur back pain sufferer however, the following is a simple regime worth considering when time and space allow:

Simple extensions

Stand with feet shoulder width apart and gently arch the lower back aiming to look directly upwards. Stretch backwards as far as possible and hold the position for 5 seconds. Relax and repeat 5 times.

Lumbar rotations

Lie on your back. With alternate knees, flex at the hip bringing your knee up towards your chest. Rotate to the side, trying to bring the side of your knee as close to the ground as you can, while keeping your shoulders flat on the ground. Hold the position for 5 seconds before returning your knees to the midline, and then rotating to the other side. Repeat 5 times.

Hip extensions

Get into the all-fours position with weight evenly distributed on hands and knees. Slowly raise one leg behind you, trying to elevate the thigh to as near horizontal as possible, keeping the trunk flat, using your stomach muscles. Hold for 5 seconds and repeat with the other leg. Do 5 sets of each.

Press ups

Not proper ones, but from the position flat on your front, lift up on your arms arching the spine from the waist, trying to hold the position with elbows fully straight. Hold for 5 seconds and relax, repeating 5 -10 times.

All of these exercises should be undertaken slowly and in a controlled manner, with no sudden violent or jerky movements. Done carefully, they should not put you at risk of injury, however bad your back pain feels. Most people will obtain some relief of discomfort after doing them.

Shoulders

Stretches and rotations are important and worth doing regularly. Also, keeping a good erect posture, with the shoulders well-braced, will keep the rotator cuff muscles in better condition, reducing impingement. Exercises to pull the shoulders back trying to bring the elbows together behind you can help with posture.

If you experience painful clicking in the front of the joint, don’t keep making it click if you can avoid it. It is caused by an inflamed tendon snapping over the front of the shoulder and repetition can make the inflammation worse.

Advice and suggestions – Equipment

Getting in and out of your jacket can be a problem with a bad shoulder: Always try and put the bad side in first, as this causes less shoulder movement and should be less painful. Don’t be afraid to ask for assistance getting the jacket off!

There is no avoiding the shoulder with our type of shooting. If symptoms are really severe, a rest from the sport may become necessary; cortisone injections and ultimately surgery may have to be considered.

Padding is the key with elbows. Modern shooting jackets cannot incorporate thick padding, and so we have to somehow protect the elbow inside the sleeve. There are ready made devices for elbow joint protection and these may be useful. They may be quite bulky, however, and not fit inside the jacket comfortably. If the overall pressure on the point of the elbow increases, the pain will as well, and the object of the exercise is defeated.

I have long suffered with bursitis and have developed a near perfect solution. 7 mm thick orthopaedic felt can be bought in sheets from main chemist stores. It is designed for the foot and has a sticky side which is applied to the skin.

If a square of this material is cut (approx 12x12 cm), and a small hole is cut out of the centre about 2 x 2 cm, this can be stuck onto the point of the elbow with the painful swollen tip of the olecranon projecting through thehole. The support around the elbow tip relieves just enough pressure to make shooting perfectly comfortable and the relatively thin padding layer does not cause problems inside the jacket sleeve. The adhesive is strong enough to keep the felt in place for up to several days if necessary but it can be changed daily if desired.

An alternative is to use the felt pad with the sticky side stuck to a tubigrip support. This can then be turned ‘inside out’ and the padded tubigrip worn on the elbow. Although reusable and easy to use, this is less stable and can potentially move about during a shoot.

Medication

There is not a pharmacological cure for every problem but there is no doubt that simple painkillers can help. Paracetemol is a reliable safe and effective analgesic and can be taken regularly without risk. Taken as per instructions it will reduce the level of background chronic pain and will not causeharm or addiction. Paracetemol will not mask serious or significant pain.

Anti-inflammatory drugs can be very helpful for the conditions that effect shooters. Ibuprofen (Brufen) is available over the counter. Taken as instructed, full effect is unlikely unless it is taken regularly for 2-3 days. This drug is generally safe but may cause gastric irritation and can make asthmatics worse.This type of drug can also be used as a gel and can be applied topically over the painful area. Ibulieve and Voltarol gel are two examples and can be very effective, particularly where the inflamed joint is close to the surface (eg elbow). The gels can be used in addition to the tablet form of the drug.

Preparations such as Glucosamine may have some use in the treatment of early arthritis. These donot work in the short term and are not recommended for the treatment of symptoms brought on during Bisley week!

Other sources of professional help

Pharmacist:

All pharmacists can offer advice for simple medication treatment of orthopaedic problems; often a very useful source of assistance.

Physiotherapist:

There are many very good independent state registered physiotherapists, excellent professional practitioners who can advise and undertake treatment for a wide range of conditions.

Chiropractic:

Similar to physiotherapists, these practitioners are trained predominantly to deal with trunk conditions, and will emphasise the importance of spinal alignment.

Osteopath:

For any musculoskeletal problems, concentrating on manipulation and massage techniques.

Sports therapist:

Not as strictly regulated as the above, but can be very effective. Do ensure any therapist you consult for treatment is registered with their professional body and if possible always try and obtain a personal recommendation (just as you would, of course, before consulting an orthopaedic surgeon!)

The History of the Athelings

The History of the Athelings

This article has been written to give an overview on the history of the Athelings. The annual Athelings tour is one of the reasons there is such a close relationship between the shooting communities in Canada and in Great Britain, and many of the members of this Great Britain Team had their first taste of international shooting with the Athelings.

The first exchange visits of cadet teams took place in 1910, when parties of cadets from Australia, New Zealand and Canada came to England, and a contingent of 12 English cadets under Major McCalmont MP, Adjutant of Eton College OTC, visited Canada. Many cadets from the self-governing Dominions came here in 1911 for the Coronation, and the British-Canadian exchange visits for cadet shooting teams (then called "Fire Units") were continued in 1912 and 1913.

These early interchanges were fostered by the Imperial Cadet Association, founded in 1908 by Surgeon Captain RJE Hanson, to create and maintain links between the cadet movements in the Mother Country, Dominions and Colonies. Resulting from this linkage, Surgeon Captain Hanson received in 1928 an official invitation from the Secretary of the DCRA for a party of two Officers and twelve Cadets to take part in the Annual Meeting at Connaught in August, and then to spend two weeks on tour in Canada. This, and the subsequent regular visits of British Cadet Rifle Teams, was organised by the Imperial Cadet Association, with the approval of the War Office. The 1928 visit was paid for in its entirety by Sir Charles Wakefield Bt, who at the same time presented to DCRA the Cadet Aggregate Trophy which bears his name.

After 1928, annual visits to Canada were firmly established, and they continued without a break until 1939. Surgeon Captain Hanson introduced the name "Atheling" during this period, to describe the members of these teams going overseas to represent their country in shooting. The word, of Anglo- Saxon origin, means a "young noble", usually the heir to a ruler or leader. In 1932 Surgeon Captain Hanson presented a trophy, which he named in honour of Michael Faraday, to be competed for on the Connaught Ranges, Ottawa, between the Athelings and a team of Canadian cadets.

Surgeon Captain Hanson died in 1940 and the task of restarting the visits after World War II fell mainly on Major JAO Muirhead of Clifton, who had been the Commandant of the 1928 team, and on Major EF Housden of Harrow, Commandant in 1937. Post-War difficulties, financial and otherwise, prevented effective action before 1951 when, thanks to the enthusiasm and practical support of Colonel DG Buell, the Director of Cadets in Ottawa, an exchange of rifle teams was arranged. Colonel Buell's efforts provided generous hospitality for Athelings both on the ranges and while on tour in Canada.

During the Fifties, War Office support for the British Cadet team did not include any financial assistance. As a result it was sometimes difficult to find a sufficient number of cadets with adequate shooting ability who could afford to go, and in 1958 and 1959 the Athelings tours had to be cancelled. The position greatly improved in 1960 when, on the occasion of the centenary of the Cadet Forces in UK, the Ministry of Defence undertook to make a substantial grant which almost entirely covers the travel costs of the team. This grant was negotiated by Lieutenant Colonel CE Bond of the City of London School, who in that year took over the organisation of the Athelings Tour, and it has continued until the present time.

Since 1960 the number of applications for membership of the team has been far in excess of the places available, and cadets can now be selected entirely on their shooting ability. In 1970, following the setting up of the Council for Cadet Rifle Shooting, Colonel Bond was succeeded by Lieutenant Colonel RE Goddard of Epsom, and in 1995 Lieutenant Colonel NS Suffield-Jones, late of Bradfield.

Reciprocal visits by a team of Royal Canadian Army Cadets started in the early fifties, and in 1954 Colonel Buell presented a trophy, named after Alexander Graham Bell, to be competed for at Bisley by the cadet teams of Canada and the UK. In this match the UK team is selected from all CCF and Open Unit cadets who are shooting in the target rifle events of the NRA Imperial Meeting.

A further match, shot in two stages at Bisley and at Connaught, was instituted in 1987. It is known as the Rex Goddard, with a trophy presented by Lieutenant Colonel AJ Cafik, Commandant of the RCAC Bisley Teams of 1985 - 1988. Competition is between the Canadian Bisley Team and the Athelings, and was at first based on aggregate scores in the Ashburton/Garry and the Buell matches. Since 1993 this event has been fired as a separate match, using the standard issue cadet rifle of the host country.

	Canadian Wins	UK Wins
Michael Faraday	36	30
Alexander G Bell	11	46
Rex Goddard	11	12