Astigmatism and reticles

[kripton]

I have astigmatism in my master (right) eye. I find that when adjusting the focus (eyepiece) in a telescopic sight either the horizontal cross hair is in sharp focus or the vertical one is in sharp focus - unfortunately neither of the cross hairs are in sharp focus at the same time. I believe that my astigmatism is the cause of this but stand to be corrected by those who know better.
A number of members here seem to decry sights with a red dot but I find that a very fine red dot (eg Zeiss type 60 reticle) is the best way I am able to shoot with acceptable accuracy (1 minute or better).
Have any other members had similar problems and, if so, how have they solved them?
I do wear bifocal glasses as a rule but take them off to shoot.

 

[8x57]

I too have astigmatism but I don't have the problem that you have. I've heard others say that they cannot use a red dot sight because of this condition. I've tried several red dot sights and have issues with them other than the top quality sights like Aimpoint.
Basically I think it all boils down to the fact that we all have different eyes and what works for one simply won't work for another. So its a matter of trying out different things and finding what works for you and then sticking with it.

 

[Mungo]

I have astigmatism in my shooting eye, but don’t have this problem.

I’m not completely sure the problem you’re describing is a problem to do with astigmatism. Since the two arms of the reticule should be in the same plane, they should come in and out if focus together.

Does it happen with all scopes, or just one?

 

[Mungo]

As a test: tilt the rifle 90 degrees and adjust focus. If the same arm comes in and out of focus at the same adjustment level, even though it’s now lying 90 degrees from where it was, it’s not your eye, it’s the scope.

 

[Mungo]

If I was forced to guess what has happened here: I think the etching on your cross hair arms is different depths.

 

[Smellydog]

I have this condition but have not noticed the reticle issue you have. It does however make shooting paper target's difficult for me. In fact I don't any more.

 

[kripton]

I have astigmatism in my shooting eye, but don’t have this problem.

I’m not completely sure the problem you’re describing is a problem to do with astigmatism. Since the two arms of the reticule should be in the same plane, they should come in and out if focus together.

Does it happen with all scopes, or just one?

Thanks Mungo et all.
It happens with all scopes - I just seem to get a shadow with one of the crosshairs when the other is sharply in focus.
I have now tried with the scope level and then with it canted at 90 degrees - the crosshair which was clear when the scope was level is blurred when the scope is canted at 90 degrees.
I have this problem with all my scopes - Zeiss Conquest DL, Zeiss Conquest V6, Swaro 8x56, Delta Titanium HD, Khales, etc. etc
I have booked a sight test for Monday 13th February and will see what optician has to say.- Will update if any resolution (see what I did there?)

 

[Mungo]

Thanks Mungo et all.
It happens with all scopes - I just seem to get a shadow with one of the crosshairs when the other is sharply in focus.
I have now tried with the scope level and then with it canted at 90 degrees - the crosshair which was clear when the scope was level is blurred when the scope is canted at 90 degrees.
I have this problem with all my scopes - Zeiss Conquest DL, Zeiss Conquest V6, Swaro 8x56, Delta Titanium HD, Khales, etc. etc
I have booked a sight test for Monday 13th February and will see what optician has to say.- Will update if any resolution (see what I did there?)

Gosh.

That is strange!

Eyeball shaped like a rugby ball!

 

[Smellydog]

This thread is making my eyes sore.....

 

[Stalker62]

I have booked a sight test for Monday 13th February and will see what optician has to say.

I was fitted with contact lenses last year.

If I am shooting a scoped rifle, I wear a lens in my left eye, unscoped then a lens in my right eye.

I actually took my rifle to the options to make sure she understood exactly what I meant, and at what distance I needed to be 'on'.

Do however, check with the Optician, before you rock up with a rifle under your arm...

 

[scotch_egg]

I have astigmatism and red dots flare. However lines are fine for me. My Schmidt PM11’s have all be great. I had to sell all three Zeiss V8’s as the illuminated red dots were useless to me. I was gutted as the 1.8-14X50’s were brilliant scopes and the perfect size.

 

[VSS]

I was fitted with contact lenses last year.

If I am shooting a scoped rifle, I wear a lens in my left eye, unscoped then a lens in my right eye.

I actually took my rifle to the options to make sure she understood exactly what I meant, and at what distance I needed to be 'on'.

Do however, check with the Optician, before you rock up with a rifle under your arm...

I also wear contact lenses, and have done for 30 years.
Your story reminds me of one check-up I had. After the first part of the examination, I had to go through to another room to have my retina photographed (or whatever it is they do). Seeing me pick up my bag, the young lady optician said it's OK, I could leave my bag, as we'd be coming back to this room in a minute. No, I replied, I had better keep it with me, as I've just been to the gunshop and it's full of ammunition. A long chat ensued, in which it transpired that her dad was a keen stalker, and she'd been accompanying him since she was a child. A very refreshing outcome to the situation.

 

[Steff]

I have a similar problem with my astigmatism. I tend to see my crosshairs double no matter how well I focus them with the diopter. The finer the crosshairs the more likely this will happen.
Even more annoying is the fact that after only a few shots the image of my target dots will double. I have to shift my eye position ever so slightly behind the scope to get a sharp image again. But even this this will only hold for a second or two before the image starts to double again.

 

[TundB]

I’ve also have a minor astigmatism in my eyes. I wear contact lenses while out shooting which has astigmatism correction but it still doesn’t work %100.
I only struggle during 5-10 mins of first and last light as the red dot on my scope starts getting blurred but it’s still fine within limits thanks to Zeiss V8’s ultra fine illumination. I know it’s because of shape of an eye, so all eyes are different but I found Zeiss V8 is the best for my eyes.

 

[palo]

I also have an astigmatism in my right eye. I manage ok with it and it doesn't effect my shooting but if I look through the scope with my left eye the reticle is sharper and is jet black rather than the dark grey image I see through my right eye.

 

[scotch_egg]

This thread really does show it’s in the “eye of the beholder” when it comes to looking through a scope.

 

[kripton]

I have astigmatism and red dots flare. However lines are fine for me. My Schmidt PM11’s have all be great. I had to sell all three Zeiss V8’s as the illuminated red dots were useless to me. I was gutted as the 1.8-14X50’s were brilliant scopes and the perfect size.

Yes I also found that the red dots would flare if too bright.- I therefore turn down the illumination until it is only a pinprick of light (noticeably smaller than the thickness of the thinnest part of the crosshairs). Many of the scopes now available have red dots which either disappear when illumination is turned right down or where the dot is too large for my eyes however it is adjusted for brightness.

 

[scotch_egg]

Yes I also found that the red dots would flare if too bright.- I therefore turn down the illumination until it is only a pinprick of light (noticeably smaller than the thickness of the thinnest part of the crosshairs). Many of the scopes now available have red dots which either disappear when illumination is turned right down or where the dot is too large for my eyes however it is adjusted for brightness.

Even on the lowest setting for me unfortunately it was too much. I would get a line going out to 1 o’clock. It was enough to ruin it for me at low light which is the only time I ever use illumination and when most of my shooting is done under dark woodland. However Swarovski doesn’t do it. No idea why. I’ve only just tried one. Although I don’t like the look of them on my rifles

The Schmidt illuminated cross works perfectly.

 

[Siggy]

I use a schmidt and bender scope with a illuminated cross rather than a dot. The shape of the cross allows my brain to compensate for the blurring/star streaks caused by astigmatism and laser eye surgery.

 

[trickie]

I also have astigmatism in my mater eye. Red dots started to go fuzzy the into 3 dots, now just can’t use then. Green dots however are much better for me, currently just starting to go fuzzy.
Scopes, I have no issues with, setting them up takes longer, but when done I can still see very well out past 1.000 yards. I can use FFP as well as SFP scopes.