Whenever you’re using an optic, being able to adequately see your reticle is paramount, so vision conditions can have a profound effect on your capabilities. The most common of these conditions is Astigmatism, which occurs when the lens of your eye has an irregular shape, resulting in multiple focal points instead of one, which can blur your vision.
For firearm enthusiasts, this distortion poses a particular challenge with red dot sights. Instead of a clear reticle, the reticle image can appear blown out or distorted, compromising your ability to shoot accurately.
However, there are ways to adapt. If you already have a red dot sight, there are specific techniques you can employ to help improve your shooting experience, even with astigmatism. In this guide, we’ll share tips for using red dot sights effectively and explore alternative options that can enhance your efficacy with an optic.
What does Astigmatism Look Like?
Astigmatism can look different depending on the individual. Common distortions include the starburst effect, where the dot appears larger and blown-out, and the smear or comet-effect, where the reticle appears smeared across the lens, having the same shape as a comet. A more severe distortion is a “double dot”, where it looks like your optic is projecting two different reticles.
Testing for Astigmatism
Astigmatism is a common vision condition that roughly 1 in 3 people suffer from. A straightforward way to test and see it only requires your red dot sight and a phone with a camera. All you need to do is turn your optic on and take a picture of the reticle. This will show you how your reticle is supposed to look. Now, look through your red dot sight and compare what you see. If there are distortions that the camera didn’t pick up, it’s likely you have astigmatism.
If the picture also shows distortions, there may be a problem with the optic itself. This is an unlikely outcome, but not one that’s impossible. Either way, this test can show if you may have astigmatism. For a true diagnosis, you’ll need to consult with a medical professional.
Can You Still Use a Red Dot if you have Astigmatism?
Of course, you can use a red dot with astigmatism, but it can present some challenges. Still, you don’t have to throw away your reflex sight just yet. There are tips and tricks to help you adapt.
Tips and Tricks for Shooting with Astigmatism
Compared to other types of optics, reflex sights are unique in that they let you put all your focus on the target instead of focusing on the reticle. Take iron sights, for example; while they can be a great targeting aid with practice, their design requires you to keep your primary focus on the front sight rather than the target itself.
With a red dot sight, this isn’t a problem at all, as you can keep both of your eyes open and give the target your full focus and allow the reticle to exist solely as a point of aim. Still, this doesn’t eliminate the effects of astigmatism, but there are other tools and techniques you can use to adapt.
Adjusting your Brightness
This is a simple, yet effective method of curbing astigmatism. Enthusiasts often over-adjust the brightness on their optics when they’re new to running red dot sights. If you have astigmatism, making the reticle brighter will only worsen the effect. The key is to find the right balance. You want your optic to be bright enough so you can still see the reticle, but not too bright so that it worsens any distortions. Lowering the brightness to a dim, yet visible and clear image can greatly counteract the effects of astigmatism.
Magnifiers
Magnifiers are a type of optic that sits behind a red dot sight and extends the usable range of your reflex sight by magnifying the reticle and sight picture. It focuses the light from the red dot to ensure that the reticle remains clear and centered. Plus, most magnifiers have adjustable diopters, allowing you to really dial in the focus to best suit your vision.
Most magnifiers are mounted on cam mounts which can be flipped off to the side when not in use. This lets you keep your red dot’s unmagnified agility, while providing the precision and clarity that comes with a magnified optic when needed. It’s likely to have some slight distortion still, but it should appear clearer than without one. There are a lot of magnification levels to choose from when selecting a red dot magnifier.
Best Reflex Sight Reticles for Astigmatism
If you’re still having trouble with the standard dot reticle, using a different one can counter astigmatism’s effect. If you want to stick to a dot sight, opting for a larger reticle can help with your astigmatism. Proportionally, distortions will be bigger on smaller reticles, but on larger 4- or 6-MOA reticles, the effect won’t be as severe, making the red dot easier to use.
Also, using a more complex reticle can be of some benefit too. Modern reflex sights can project complex reticle designs with multiple elements, offering many of the same benefits as using a larger dot reticle. The added elements and larger reticle size make the reticle distortions smaller in proportion to the reticle, making aiming with a reflex sight much easier.
Circle Dot Reticle
Circle dot reticles are one of the most popular reticle patterns available. As their name suggests, they’re made up of two core elements, an outer circle and a center dot. For full size optics, this will most often be a 65-MOA outer circle with a 2-MOA dot, but for mini-reflex/pistol red dot sights, it’s usually a 32-MOA circle. These reticles are generally quicker to acquire compared to standard dot reticles, as the larger outer circle can catch and guide your eye easier. If you’re interested in knowing more about them, check out our guide on how to use them.
ACSS Reticle System
Our Advanced Combined Sighting System encompasses a highly adaptable family of reticle systems for a wide array of optic variants. For reflex sights specifically, the ACSS CQB and ACSS Vulcan are the main reticles offered.
Starting with the ACSS CQB reticle system, it’s one of our most popular red dot reticle systems. It features a center chevron aiming point with a 65-MOA outer horseshoe along with BDC holds. The center chevron provides a very precise center aiming point, while the added outer horseshoe makes it easier to acquire, like a circle dot reticle. While this is one of the more popular options, there are a lot of red dots with ACSS reticles to choose from.
Designed for mini-reflex sights, the ACSS Vulcan is a unique reticle that features a large outer circle that sits outside of the optic’s main field of view. It only ever appears when your aim is off center, effectively acting as a guide to get you back on target. Depending on the optic, models that use the ACSS Vulcan can either come with a center dot or a center chevron.
Red Dot Sight Alternatives
If you’re still having problems after trying different models and techniques, it may be time to switch to a different optic type altogether. Holographic sights, low power variable optics (LPVOs), and prism scopes are some of the most popular red dot sight alternatives. Each one offers their own distinct benefits for enthusiasts with astigmatism.
Holographic Sights
Holographic sights are a type of reflex sight that uses a laser diode in tandem with multiple reflective panels to create a holographic image within the optic. Because of this, holographic sights offer a parallax free image that can be less prone to distortion from astigmatism. Remember that your ability to see one of these sights adequately depends on your individual astigmatism.
EOTech was the first optic manufacturer to begin developing holographic sights, and as such, they’re one of the most popular options to go with. They offer an expansive lineup of holographic sights in their lineup, with models like their EXPS2 and EXPS3 series are some of the most popular, but they have multiple models that offer different battery lives, mounting methods, and reticle systems.
Depending on what you need out your optic, you might benefit from one model over the other, but in terms of choosing the best EOTech optic, it ultimately depends on your personal preferences.
LPVOs
LPVOs are a type of rifle scope that blends the fast target acquisition speed of 1x optics with variable power capabilities for shots at further distances. For astigmatism, LPVOs are a solid choice, as they combine an etched or wire reticle with an adjustable diopter. As a result, you have incredibly fine and precise reticle elements that are easy to see, even with astigmatism.
Though LPVOs aren’t as quick as reflex sights when at their 1x magnification setting, they still offer agility when needed. As such, they’re popular for when both long-range shooting and close-range engagements are expected.
There are a lot of manufacturers producing them. Our PLxC 1-8×24 FFP Rifle Scope is one of our best rifle scopes. It comes equipped with one of our ACSS Raptor M8 Reticles calibrated for either yards or meters, or it can come with our ACSS Griffin MIL M8 reticle, which is better suited for MIL measurements. Like we said though, many other manufacturers, such as Vortex Optics, Steiner, SIG Sauer, and Nightforce, are well known for their high-quality LPVO options.
If you’re still on the fence about which optic you should go for, our guide on LPVOs vs. Red Dot Sights and Magnifiers goes more in-depth on both optics.
Prism Scopes
Prism scopes are one of the best optic choices for those who suffer from astigmatism. Like variable power optics, prism scopes can feature reticles that are etched directly into the glass, providing you with clear, crisp reticle elements that are easy to see, but instead of variable power, they offer fixed magnification levels. Depending on the magnification you choose, they can have the same form factor as a red dot sight. To get a better idea of how they compare, our guide on prism scopes vs. reflex sights breaks down both optics in a head-to-head comparison.
1x prism scopes, like our SLx 1x MicroPrism Scope, have the same form factor as red dot sights and offer the same level of agility. They can also be used with magnifiers, but this only applies for 1x prism scopes.
For greater magnification out of your optic, we also have an extensive range of prism scopes with varying magnification levels. Our SLx 3x MicroPrism Scope is a solid pick, and it comes with our ACSS Raptor reticle calibrated for 5.56 and .308.
With prism scopes being such a popular alternative to red dot sights, there are a lot of options to choose from. Trijicon is one of the most well-known producers of optics, with their Advanced Combat Optical Gunsight, or ACOG, being one of the most proven rifle optics ever made. It uses a dual-illumination design, with fiber optic tubes for daylight visibility and tritium for low light illumination. It’s also available in multiple magnification levels with varying reticle systems. Another popular sight choice is Vortex Optics’ Spitfire series of rifle scopes. It’s available in either 1x, 3x, or 5x magnification levels, plus they come with a variety of different reticle patterns too.
Conclusion
Using a red dot with astigmatism can present many challenges. However, with the right techniques and strategies, or by switching to a different optic, these challenges can be overcome. Managing astigmatism requires you to remain flexible and open to using alternative optic options.
Whether you continue to use a red dot sight, or opt for something like a holographic sight, LPVO, or prism scope, we highly recommend researching each choice before you pull the trigger on one. Each of the optics mentioned above comes with their own distinct features, pros, and cons. Whichever one you end up choosing, so long as it aligns with your preferences, it’ll be a good fit for you.
While the right optic can make a difference to enhance your shooting experience, the right upgrades can make it even better. Our guide on the top 5 AR-15 accuracy upgrades can take your build to new heights.
