Strabismus and using a red dot...

[Vinnie Boombatz]

I know it's blasphemy, but I close one of my eyes when using a red dot. In addition to an astigmatism, I also have a type of strabismus called esotropia. You wouldn't be able to notice it if you were looking at me, but it's been an issue all my life. Wore an eye patch as a kid, and then later had surgery twice to try and correct it. Because of the esotropia I actually see two targets when I'm looking through a red dot with both eyes open. One target is just slightly to the left and above the other one, with a little bit of overlap between the two.

Keeping both eyes open actually makes it pretty difficult to acquire my target quickly and slows things down quite a bit. I see two images and quickly have to pick the one that's I think is the correct image that the red dot is focused on. I know it's the image that's slightly to the right and down, but depending on the distance this can really cause my eyes to struggle and just takes way more time than closing one of my eyes and knowing that what I'm seeing with one eye closed is lined up with the red dot.

Sure, I'm losing some peripheral vision on the side of the eye that's closed, but I have my red dot mounted a bit further up on the receiver. This allows for a greater field of view around the red dot, even if one eye is closed. This is my I still went with a red dot over a LPVO where my eye would have to be closer to the optic, thus limiting my peripheral vision even more.

Anyone else out there that has a type of strabismus (esotropia or exotropia) that still uses a red dot on their rifle? What have your workarounds been?

[Sicarius]

You may want to look into a prism scope for a 1x or fixed low power. I am not sure about your particular situation so a lpvo may be a good all around solution for you too. Only you can be the judge though. I have an astigmatism and although one eye is significantly worse than the other, some optics are better than others. I tend to stick with aimpoints or mro. Eotech looks like 100 lazers shooting into my eye. I am not familiar with your situation but the best thing is to try before you buy. See what works for you.
Kevin

[Vinnie Boombatz]

You may want to look into a prism scope for a 1x or fixed low power. I am not sure about your particular situation so a lpvo may be a good all around solution for you too. Only you can be the judge though. I have an astigmatism and although one eye is significantly worse than the other, some optics are better than others. I tend to stick with aimpoints or mro. Eotech looks like 100 lazers shooting into my eye. I am not familiar with your situation but the best thing is to try before you buy. See what works for you.
Kevin

Thanks for the advice.

I see the dit just fine. No starbursts or clusters, etc. I see two separate targets since my eyes naturally don't always want to work together and focus on the same object, hence the double targets.

I considered an LPVO, and still may try one just for fun, but felt like the red dot would be a better choice for an AR since I Neve really plan to shoot out that far past 100 yards (if ever that far!) and I don't have be as close to a red dot as I would with a scope, resulting in more peripheral vision with the red dot, even if I keep one eye closed.

[saber]