Need Some Advice on AR Weapons sight for Astigmatism

[BigDaddyGuns]

According to the doctor I have a "slight" astigmatism. I'm wear contact 99% of the time and wear those "toric" lenses for astigmatisms. ANYWAYS, I need to find a sight that will "work."

I've tried an EOTech - Too much "glare" or whatever you call it where I see a ghost. It's really bothersome. - For sale btw:

ACOG- little too much money - not interetested

Has anyone heard of any sights where they're astigmatism friendly? Any suggestions at all welcome?

[Veggie]

I have heard that some people with astigmatism have problems with eotech but not aimpoint and visaversa. I have an astigmatism but my glasses don't compensate. Need to get new contacts soon. Was wondering if astigmatism contacts correct for the flare that red dot sights have for people with astigmatism.

[ExtremeX]

I have astigmatism... D -1.00 / AXIS -1.75 090 and wear contacts...

First off buying contacts helped a crap load (vs glasses). Unless im having a bad day with my contacts, everything is working out great. If the lens isnt sitting on your eye correctly the dot can start to get a little fuzzy.

I dont have any problems shooting through a scope, if anything i prefer it. I use red dot sights and and feel its not really a problem anymore.

I am looking for a 2MOA dot aim point right now but I still like eotech type sights. Not really having a problem shooting with anything.

[Boots]

here's an excerpt from Tacticalyellowvisor.net...

I have tried Aimpoints, Eotechs, fullsize ACOGs, and Compact ACOGs, and I find the Compact ACOG line to be the best fit for me. They are available from 1.5x to 3x, they are lightweight, they don't require batteries, and they are astigmatism-friendly. Most of your electronic sights (Eotech and Aimpoint, for example) have a tendency to bloom when looked at with an eye with an uncorrected astigmatism. I have an astigmatism so I prefer non-powered optics. There's also the benefit of not having to turn anything on, not having to worry about batteries, etc. The other aspect that is beneficial (see "Mission") is that both the 1.5x and the 3x are functionally identical, and the reticles are close enough to being identical so as not to matter.

hope this helps point you in the right direction

[tacticalcity]

No matter what kind of vision you have red dots will start to starburst if you crank up the juice too high. I used to have astigmatism, and had lasik to correct it. Lasik leads to more pronouced starbursting and halos than astignmatism. So if you think you see the red dot funny, you should see it through my eyes. Turning down the juice so that the dot is just one setting bright than you really need it to be rather than 4 or 5 settings brighter than you really need to be makes the staring and halo effects go away. My point is, more often than not it is not the sight or your eyes. Instead it is the end user cranking up the juice. Someone with perfect vision would still see a staring effect at that power setting. Most people do not realize this. However, if they too a basic carbine course they would learn this in day one. So they blame the sight, and not themselves for not being properly trained on how to use the sight.

[ExtremeX]

here's an excerpt from Tacticalyellowvisor.net...

I have tried Aimpoints, Eotechs, fullsize ACOGs, and Compact ACOGs, and I find the Compact ACOG line to be the best fit for me. They are available from 1.5x to 3x, they are lightweight, they don't require batteries, and they are astigmatism-friendly. Most of your electronic sights (Eotech and Aimpoint, for example) have a tendency to bloom when looked at with an eye with an uncorrected astigmatism. I have an astigmatism so I prefer non-powered optics. There's also the benefit of not having to turn anything on, not having to worry about batteries, etc. The other aspect that is beneficial (see "Mission") is that both the 1.5x and the 3x are functionally identical, and the reticles are close enough to being identical so as not to matter.

hope this helps point you in the right direction

[tacticalcity]

A lot of guys shoot with their stocks way too far back. Especially guys who grew up hunting with shotguns. ACOGs have the perfect amount of eye relief if your stock is adjusted correctly, i.e. nose to the charging handle. From a tactics standpoint, having your collapsible stock pushed in and lowering the overall length of your weapon is a smart idea. However, old guys and hunters have a really hard time embracing this concept. It feels really awkward to them. If you were to do some training inside a kill-house, you would quickly see the advantage to a shortening the overall length of your weapon as much as possible as it helps you get around inside much easier. It would also turn you off to magnified ACOGs however. Magnification is a major liability in CQB. For open battlefield type shooting it can be a major plus. But within 50 yards it can and will get you killed.

I was once a HUGE ACOG fan. Not so much any more. If not for the price tag I would be in favor of their 1X models for CQB. Since you can get a Red Dot from EoTech or even Aimpoint for half the price, and dialing down the power almost always elminated any staring effect you see, I don't see the need to spend that kind of money. Perhaps they should consider an RMR sight from Trijicon? Similar concept to a 1X ACOG only a lot less money. Both Daniel Defense (American Defense) and Larue make tall height mounts for them so you get good cowitnessing with your irons. I've never tried that setup, but I am told it works well. It is sort of like taking the best of the ACOG and combining it with the best of the Aimpoint Micro T-1 Sight and the best of the DOCTOR sight and mixing them all into one...at least in theory.

[k1dude]

here's an excerpt from Tacticalyellowvisor.net...

I have tried Aimpoints, Eotechs, fullsize ACOGs, and Compact ACOGs, and I find the Compact ACOG line to be the best fit for me. They are available from 1.5x to 3x, they are lightweight, they don't require batteries, and they are astigmatism-friendly. Most of your electronic sights (Eotech and Aimpoint, for example) have a tendency to bloom when looked at with an eye with an uncorrected astigmatism. I have an astigmatism so I prefer non-powered optics. There's also the benefit of not having to turn anything on, not having to worry about batteries, etc. The other aspect that is beneficial (see "Mission") is that both the 1.5x and the 3x are functionally identical, and the reticles are close enough to being identical so as not to matter.

hope this helps point you in the right direction

That's been my personal experience. Red dots are always fuzzy regardless of how low I turn down the power. A few weeks ago I took a peek through a TA31 ACOG and was SHOCKED at how sharp and clear the reticle and target was! I'm now currently trying to save my pennies to buy an ACOG. Perhaps I should try one of the Trijicon TR24's before I go blow the big bucks on an ACOG.

[Veggie]

I have an eye doctor appointment to get some new contacts. Once I do I think I will get a new eotech or aimpoint. The flare was minimal before with correcting contacts I should be good.

[ExtremeX]

That's been my personal experience. Red dots are always fuzzy regardless of how low I turn down the power. A few weeks ago I took a peek through a TA31 ACOG and was SHOCKED at how sharp and clear the reticle and target was! I'm now currently trying to save my pennies to buy an ACOG. Perhaps I should try one of the Trijicon TR24's before I go blow the big bucks on an ACOG.

I hear you... Once you try sights with top shelf glass (scopes or ACOGS), and see what you are missing out on you get spoiled.

I dont want to say im a glass snob, but I sure as hell can appreicate quality optics. Comming from a camera background the prices dont shock me, but its still hard to justify the price for what I use it for. I guess if I was LE or Military its a no brainer.

[cqbdude]

I have had the same issues with my Aimpoint T1 and also the Eotech 552.
But when I use a magnifier on the Eotech its all clear..

I also found that if I use my DMS-1 which is a 1x-4x scope, I see the red dot really clear..Also My Meopta R1 works really well for having stigmatism..

So your best bet is probably a 1x-4x scope or something like it..

[Exile Machine]

I have severe astigmatism which is situated at 90 degrees from where most normal humans have astigmatism, so it makes reading impossible without glasses. I wear glasses or contacts and have no problem with any sights red dot or iron.

The contacts that worked best for me were the SynergEyes brand, which have a gas permeable center surrounded by a skirt of regular soft contact lens material. Expensive as hell but the vision and comfort was the best I've had in a contact lens. Also since my eyes are 'old' and can't accomodate any more, I choose to wear monovision (one contact lens focussed for near and one focussed for far), I have the perfect setup for shooting. The far eye has got the target in focus, and the near eye has the front sight (or red dot) in perfect clarity. Best of both worlds though it does take a few weeks to get the brain to go along with it.

-Mark