If you need to use red dot sites then the “hollow” sites that project the reticle are a lot better for me.
Astigmatism and reticles
- Thread starter kripton
- Start date
If you need to use red dot sites then the “hollow” sites that project the reticle are a lot better for me.
Heym SR20
Well-Known Member
I have an astigmatism as well. I don’t like red dots. I have them in a couple of scopes - complete waste of money.
And I don’t get on with higher power scopes either. I have tried to use target type scopes on others rifles with complex reticles and just never get clear and comfortable with them.
I think keeping to a simple clean reticle - the German No 4a is my choice, failing that I like a post. And keeping mag at a level where parallex is not an issue - ie max of 8x perhaps 10x.
And shooting style also helps. I am very much one for squeezing as the sights align and shoot on first sight picture and keep both eyes open. I can’t do the sit and watch animal in the scope and try to get minute adjustment that I know some can or profess to do.
To be honest I did not know I had stigmatism until a couple of years ago, and reading this thread has been quite revealing. It also really highlights why the best scope for me, may well not be the best scope for you or somebody else. All our eyes are very different.
Now the real question, I know the sky is blue, or grey (as so often in British Isles), but does my blue look the same as your blue and if I was looking through your eyes would the sky actually look red?
And I don’t get on with higher power scopes either. I have tried to use target type scopes on others rifles with complex reticles and just never get clear and comfortable with them.
I think keeping to a simple clean reticle - the German No 4a is my choice, failing that I like a post. And keeping mag at a level where parallex is not an issue - ie max of 8x perhaps 10x.
And shooting style also helps. I am very much one for squeezing as the sights align and shoot on first sight picture and keep both eyes open. I can’t do the sit and watch animal in the scope and try to get minute adjustment that I know some can or profess to do.
To be honest I did not know I had stigmatism until a couple of years ago, and reading this thread has been quite revealing. It also really highlights why the best scope for me, may well not be the best scope for you or somebody else. All our eyes are very different.
Now the real question, I know the sky is blue, or grey (as so often in British Isles), but does my blue look the same as your blue and if I was looking through your eyes would the sky actually look red?
Stalker-of-the-deer
Well-Known Member
I have an astigmatism and suffer from it sometimes.
Personally I set the ret so it's slightly blured and the target is sharp and in focus. It's means my eye isn't drawn to ret and I can see more clear.
I used to do alot of 25m prone target shooting with diopter sights and had the issue that I could see the rings of the diopter sights but struggled to see that targets, eventually I gave it up as I can't shoot with glasses.
As for red dots, if the brightness is turned right up you won't have an issue. Tends to be if its dimly lit it will cause it to star burst.
Personally I set the ret so it's slightly blured and the target is sharp and in focus. It's means my eye isn't drawn to ret and I can see more clear.
I used to do alot of 25m prone target shooting with diopter sights and had the issue that I could see the rings of the diopter sights but struggled to see that targets, eventually I gave it up as I can't shoot with glasses.
As for red dots, if the brightness is turned right up you won't have an issue. Tends to be if its dimly lit it will cause it to star burst.
Before I became aware of my astigmatism I noted that one of our cars dashes were easier to read than the other in the dark. Red illumination was the main divider and the other one was a yellow/white that was much clearer, less fuzzy.
If you have say a Pard,with a choice of colours for the reticle, then have a mess about with the options as you might be pleasantly surprised to find something better than currently used.
If you have say a Pard,with a choice of colours for the reticle, then have a mess about with the options as you might be pleasantly surprised to find something better than currently used.
This is completely the opposite for me. When turned up a red dot streams light all over and is terrible.
Agreed.
A red dot is no longer a dot and more like a star when bright.
My Zeiss v4 scopes have the small illuminated centre crosshair. I never had to use the illumination yet but had a play with it yesterday.
My astigmatism is causing me to see double crosshairs with the illumination on.
If I adjust the diopter I can get rid of the double but the crosshair moves to the left.
Think il just manage without it.
My astigmatism is causing me to see double crosshairs with the illumination on.
If I adjust the diopter I can get rid of the double but the crosshair moves to the left.
Think il just manage without it.
trickie
Well-Known Member
Very interesting, I only use red dots at close range (as you would imagine). Turning up the brightness just makes it worse, on max I might as well be sat in the bath having a good soak as waste my time looking through a red haze.
I have no issues with scopes at small or large magnification. I shoot at x34 on 22 benchrest and x25 ish out to 1k. Parallax error can and will occur if the ret is out of focus, that may be ok for minute of rabbit, fox or Bambi but not for precision shooting of any discipline sadly.
However, we are all different so if that works for you, then that’s just grand
I agree.
Have now come back from the optician's - apparently the reason why one crosshair is clear when the other is blurred is due to my particular astigmatism. My eyeball is not just shaped like a rugby ball (as opposed to being round like a football) but has other differences in shape. "Oddball" comes to mind!!
An optician can have a lens made for you to your prescription that you attach to the rear of your scope or peep sight if you do not want to wear glasses to shoot.
I didn't think contact lenses did well at dealing with astigmatism as it is orientation dependent.
Holographic sights do work with astigmatism with no smear or star effects like a red dot. Have a look through at Eotech. There are magnifiers at x3 and x6 that will work with an eotech if you want a little greater range. The magnifiers make the aiming point even better. Do look at the target not at the aiming point though. The dot and circle then appear on the target. I would avoid old eotechs as they suffer an number of issues and warranty is something I would want on one.
I didn't think contact lenses did well at dealing with astigmatism as it is orientation dependent.
Holographic sights do work with astigmatism with no smear or star effects like a red dot. Have a look through at Eotech. There are magnifiers at x3 and x6 that will work with an eotech if you want a little greater range. The magnifiers make the aiming point even better. Do look at the target not at the aiming point though. The dot and circle then appear on the target. I would avoid old eotechs as they suffer an number of issues and warranty is something I would want on one.
Thank you Webley for that - I will look into it.
I have astigmatism too and without my glasses I see the vertical post of the crosshair as a double vertical and the red dot as a horizontal line. With my glasses I see only one vertical and a roundish star for the red dot. With glasses I can hit the target so all good. I struggle a bit with my non illuminated mildot reticle as it's a bit blurry but I can see well enough just not as easy because of the finer markings on the reticle. I think a red dot really helps me with the finer central section of a crosshair and I might see if I can try an illuminated mildot to see if that helps too.
When I took my DSC1 with the estate rifle, I got behind the scope and could see no inner (thin part that bisects) reticule at all. I kept shifting around and would occasionally get it but it'd be gone in an instant. Had to shoot guessing. This was right handed with my dominant left eye covered.
Never been an issue on any other scope I've shot.
Second attempt, I was advised to shoot left handed (left eye dominant, right handed). Worked a treat so I'm now a lefty shooter.
Never been an issue on any other scope I've shot.
Second attempt, I was advised to shoot left handed (left eye dominant, right handed). Worked a treat so I'm now a lefty shooter.
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