Rifle Scopes Could use some help from people with astigmatism

[gunn317]

So a long story short, age has not been friendly, at 31.......... I have been shooting pretty much for 25 years and two years ago my deer rifle's scope crosshairs started being blurry. I dealt with it and figured it was due to a cheap Leopold scope. Well fast forward a couple years and now I am waiting on a Spartan rifle so what do I do? I purchase a Bushnell DMR and everything I need to have the rifle setup and toss it on a 22 lr trainer while I am waiting for the rifle. My first outing at the range was two days ago and I could not get the crosshairs to not be blurry to the point I could shoot, so I trouble shoot paralax and objective focus and nothing helps. So now I am getting pissed that my "high end" optic that I wouldn't have fathomed paying that much for two years ago is broke. I go to work yesterday and was thinking of buying a buddy of mines EOTECH exp for an Ar I just traded for, he brings the sight in the day room and I look through it and the dot is incredibly blurry, again I am in denial and tell him there is no way I am paying for a Eotech when it is that blurry. He double checks and tells me the sight is not blurry and that on the box it came in states if the shooter has astigmatism the dot will be blurry. Well I talk to my Captain and we drive the fire engine to the local eye doctor where he tells me I have outstanding vision of 25/20 right eye and 20/20 left eye but I have astigmatism.
So the ultimate question is if I get glasses will I be able to actually see a crisp reticule or am I ultimately screwed in regards to shooting now? I researched astigmatisms and some people say they deal with it some say glasses or contacts make everything go back to normal. Appreciate the help

 

[TacticalMirage]

Glasses sure made it crisp for me !!! I had the same problem,along with starburst effect on lights at night. Glasses took care of it. I just ware them when I need to. I'm 27 so know how ya feel.
I just tried contacts yesterday cause I keep looking over the top of my glasses when I'm on a stock. I couldn't do them, Made my eyes dry and itchy.. Good luck!

 

[gunn317]

Thanks man! That really puts me at ease. I will probably just try and find a manufacturer of shooting glasses that is able to put px in them then. I am hoping contacts will do the job I am a little girl when it comes to having things in or around my eyes so we will see.

 

[E. Bryant]

Glasses will correct astigmatism. For shooting, you will probably want to work with your eye doctor to ensure that the center of the lens is correctly aligned when you are in position.

Go make an appointment ASAP.

 

[mattj]

Yup, get some glasses. For shooting, I recommend a pair of Rudy Project shades with RX inserts.

What I did was order about 5-6 different styles from Rudy, found the ones that felt best behind the gun and with ear pro, kept the pair I liked and returned the rest. Then I ordered the RX inserts for the pair I kept (they will fill the RX for you).

I do not recommend RX into the sunglass lens itself -- eventually will get scratched up, and $$$ to replace. The insert route is great because you can replace scratched outer lenses (Rudy will for free), and switch to different ones to match the conditions.

If you're going that route, go look on Brian Enos forums -- there's a promo code there for like 40% off.

 

[tip2oo3]

Thanks man! That really puts me at ease. I will probably just try and find a manufacturer of shooting glasses that is able to put px in them then. I am hoping contacts will do the job I am a little girl when it comes to having things in or around my eyes so we will see.

You'll be fine after getting contacts/ glasses. I have pretty bad astig and reticles are no problem once corrected. I know Oakley will do prescription shooting glasses.

 

[Aaros143]

Prescription glasses/contacts will sort you out. I have the same issue and wear contacts. Another option to consider is laser eye surgery. Ive worn glasses or contacts all my life if I could swing it I would do the laser eye surgery in a heartbeat.

 

[Beepy]

Yup, same boat here. My eyesight is outstanding, yet I get the pleasure of wearing glasses cause my shooting eye has a bad one. Glasses work! I do recommend having a pair of shooting specific ones. My everyday pair are cool oakleys but they are too small for correction in a shooting position.

As an aside, I was not aware that contacts or surgery works for an astigmatisim? If thats true I really need to look into that glasses suck......

I was shooting an Fclass match once, I forgot my glasses, I was able to make it work for the first string, but the second string....... I just pust this fuzzy thing on the target and hoped for the best, I wont forget my glasses again...

 

[scatterbrains]

Depending on how bad it is, being you have good vision prob wont be a noticable issue for you. I have astigmatism in both eyes AND bad distance vision. been wearing glasses since i was 8yrs old, cant do contacts after my eyes were scarred in an accident. So glasses are it for me even with a proper script i still get a fuzzy eotech ring and light halos. behind a scope i am GTG though.

 

[Redmanss]

I wear gas permeable contacts to correct a pretty significant astigmatism, and I graduated high shooter from Scout Sniper School. Hope that calms your nerves a bit more. Go see a good ophthalmologist and get some quality lenses. Don't fall for the $69 specials...

 

[Dracozny]

I wear "glass" lenses in my glasses. Polycharbonate lenses cause all sorts of havoc with my eyes, like looking through a prism. I hate the feeling of contacts, doesn't matter how thin they are its like having sand or an eyelash stuck in em. Never had any real issues with glass lenses, they stand up to scratches as well as polycharbs and they are not too much heavier. if you have bad distance vision on top of an astigmatism then the weight of the glass may be an issue.

 

[08Cayenne]

My wifes an eye doc, we went to the range with a complete set of trial lenses, literally any rx could be used. I ended up getting glasses that focus about 2" past the front sight. Now the sights are crystal clear, works great with all my scopes too.

 

[M40_A1]

You guys that are wearing contacts to correct astigmatism, are they weighted to orient when your head is upright? Otherwise, how can contacts correct astigmatism? And what if you tilt your head slightly to sight?

 

[MJY65]

You guys that are wearing contacts to correct astigmatism, are they weighted to orient when your head is upright? Otherwise, how can contacts correct astigmatism? And what if you tilt your head slightly to sight?

I had contacts that corrected for astigmatism and yes, they are weighted. The problem I had is that every time I blinked, they would move slightly and take a second to reorient themselves. Really bugged me.

 

[Redmanss]

Now that I have more time, I'll expand on my answer from earlier. Everyone above has great suggestions, so here's another experience.

I wear Bausch & Lomb (formerly Boston) brand gas permeable, and have almost every day since 1987. They correct me down to 20/15 or better, no problem with a crisp dot on my Aimpoint, and typically the same pair of contacts last me about 3-5 years with 7 on one pair I used to have. I wear the lenses until I lose or break one. Pros of them are I have VERY crisp vision, they hold the eye in shape preventing further change in your vision, and in the long run they are more economical than any "daily" type. Cons are they cause your eye to be dust sensitive (minimum sunglasses or other protection necessary in 20+ mph winds), when you start they take some time to get accustomed to and will feel like you have an eyelash in your eye for the first couple weeks as your eyes build up a callus to the edges, and you can only do very limited sleeping with them in (nothing over a couple hour nap). I'm approaching 40 years old for an age reference.

I've had one eye infection in 25 or so years, and that was pink eye that took out a couple dozen of us in my company when we first got the Benelli M4's for famfire. Rotating a company of shooters on four guns didn't work when one of them was sick. I keep the dust goggles or Wiley's handy for when it gets dusty, and that's including the last 6 1/2 years straight in Afghanistan. No issues. I wore them in the field very often back in my active duty days, just have to use a bit of extra water to clean the hands off. I don't have any issues with dryness like I did when I gave soft lenses a try.

Glasses are good enough, get me to 20/20 and so do the soft type toric contact lenses, but I've come to expect far more than 20/20. Gas permeable is the ONLY option for me. No, I won't go under a laser, my job schedule won't allow for it.

My full advice is speak for anyone with vision issues is to find a good ophthalmologist, have them do a full assessment, and listen to what they recommend for YOUR eyes. My experience is only a sample of one.

 

[tojan19]

Some very good insights here guys. I also have this issue. I've got great 20/20 or better vision, but astigmatism is a PITA with some sights. Scopes aren't bad for me but Eotechs are really fuzzy, Aimpoints only a little better, and I always have a heck of a time focusing on the front sight of a handgun. I'm also right handed and left eye dominate. I'm really thinking about laser. The wife had it done 4years ago and has been very happy.

 

[Night Eagle]

I just got a pair of space glasses. Same frames astronauts wear. I had them make it extra big so when I am prone I'm not looking over the lens and the frame doesn't get in my way. I've had glasses w smaller lens and frame and they def interfered w shooting. I'd have to remove for prone shooting. Also get transitions w glare protection. Extra money but well worth it

Night eagle

 

[Armordude]

Same issue here. But up to now i have just been using iron sites on my M4's and pistols. I have a Aimpoint on one of the M4's so no mag there.

I have a Rudy Project that I had built with in lense correction. Worked with my eye doc to position the progressive bifocal at the correct level for my pistol shooting. Strange looks from her patients when I am drawing and aiming through the office windows in the lobby to the parking lot.

I use these for everyday, driving , fishing (polorized) and shooting. Either the front sight is in focus or the target, not both.

I am building a R700 308 varmint sts, so optics are the next purchase.

Talked to the S&B guy yesterday at SOFIC in Tampa and he suggested a "starter" scope, but at >$2200 i think i am more likely going with a vortex.

Next Rudys will probably be the insert correction.

 

[gunn317]

Thanks for all the comments. I am waiting to pick my glasses up they were supposed to be done yesterday but they weren't. I have been constant shit from my daughter why we aren't going shooting. The turd told me I was old because I need glasses! I will probably get the contacts to use, just having the normal glasses on bothered me at the eye doctor so I will probably just deal with contacts or only use my glasses when I shoot.

 

[DamnYuppie]

I had contacts that corrected for astigmatism and yes, they are weighted. The problem I had is that every time I blinked, they would move slightly and take a second to reorient themselves. Really bugged me.

I had the same issue. So I just use regular glasses now.

 

[bornhunter04]

I have slight astigmatism in my left eye which just happens to be my dominant eye.....damn the luck. So eotechs are blurry as shit, my aimpoint, no problem. I started wearing glasses again about a year and a half ago, had them as a kid and stopped wearing them as a teenager. But about 1.5 years ago i noticed i was leaning into the computer screen more and more and getting headaches. So fast forward to today, about 2 months ago, I switched to contacts, glasses sucked when shooting rifle and I was tired of not being able to wear sunglasses. The contact on my left eye is weighted, but it does have a laser mark on it, that orients it the right way so it sits properly on my eye.

I'm going to start saving up for lasik so i can just be done with it and don't have to mess around with corrective lenses.

But with glasses/contacts the illuminated reticule on my vortex scopes looks good and crisp.

 

[One-Eyed Jack]

Everyone should be shooting with eye protection, so using prescription shooting glasses is really about the cost than the bother of wearing them. I'm astigmatic too and wear progressive lenses that take time to find the sweet spot looking through a scope.

 

[bornhunter04]

Omg... You feel bad? I am completely right handed but shoot left with glasses. Still can shoot. One ragged hole or not.. Put the time in


Sent from my iPhone

Jt

feel bad? what you talkin bout willis? i could still shoot one ragged hole with glasses, that was never an issue. at first it took some getting used too, but i put in the time and adapted. you want a cookie for being able to shoot with glasses too? also, my sunglasses afford me greater eye protection than my glasses by shear design/size.

one reason i might add that i switched to contacts was rather than spend the money on replacement rx lenses for my oakleys i figured the contacts would be cheaper. cheaper because if i got rx lenses then my rx changed enough after a year or two then id have to get another set of lenses. also, id rather drop a standard pair of oakleys in the lake than a pair of rx ones. never have but just the thought makes the wallet hurt.

 

[M40_A1]

I have no idea! I really don't drink, last night toooo much wine with dinner.

Not nitrogen narcosis, Diver?

 

[mrsleeve]

I am 32 have good vision just have astigmatism like hell in in right eye (my shooting eye). I had much the same experience as the OP..... I dont notice in my day to day life as my left eye makes up for it and all well. Yes Glasses made my sites and Reticles crisp and clear. Shooting with both eyes open really helped but it didnt cure the issues like glasses did