View Full Version : Problems with Aimpoints(Not what you would think)
I am sorta remiss to post this here but yet I don’t think it is a GD topic nor exactly a Health one.
For whatever reason, if I look through an Aimpoint for more than a minute I get vertigo. Like it seems like the background is kinda pulling back. Like imagine running really hard and stopping and like how it feels like the background is kinda “panning out”. Like that. Kinda.
The only other thing that makes me feel similar is certain brand of electronic microscopes.
It doesn’t ‘hurt’ as it just makes me a little queasy.
I have no idea why me and why just Aimpoint.
I have a bit of astigmatism but I don’t know if that is it. I’ve had a TBI but so have lots of people.
I have absolutely nothing against Aimpoint so it’s not fanboyism.
Is anyone else like this? Any thoughts? The lenses? Like it’s not even me jamming one up against my eye or even too far away.
I’m not even trying to be weird. The more I discuss this with others the more I want to hope that it’s not just me and that there is a scientific reason here.
ETA cursory search brings this up
https://www.menieres.org.uk/information-and-support/day-to-day/vision-and-vertigo
So I dunno how far that goes or why it is (for me) Aimpoint dependent. Whenever I don’t wear my reading glasses I wear my Oakleys or my amber shooters. I don’t really fully close my off eye when using a normal scope as I just sorta squint sorta.
Sheesh.
Is this JUST an Aimpoint issue, or with all RDs?
Are both of your eyes open?
Both eyes open always.
It seems to be just aimpoint. I have an el cheapo red dot for my hunting .44 that looks kinda greenish bluish tint but this does not happen. Nor my EOTechs.
With naked eye, reading glasses, Oaks, and my ambers same deal. Doesn’t seem to matter which eye but worse with dominant.
I dunno. Next time I go to an eye doctor I will ask.
Someone else said my inner ear or my tinnitus may be messing me up but then wouldn’t it be with everything?
Does anyone know what glass Aimpoint uses? I don’t think it’s even the dot itself.
ETA. If I leave a cap on, and OEG it then nothing happens. Buddies MRO, nothing happens. MRO dot not as ‘crisp’ as Aimpoint. Powering it up or down no difference.
Like if I had to use an Aimpoint for keeps I could work through it but just living life it gets annoying and uncomfortable
2nd ETA ever see the horror movie where it fixes on like the girl and everything pans in or out but she stays still? Like that’s the closest I know how to describe it. Perhaps not as dramatic but like that and it makes me queasy
Since I’m not a scientist, my initial thought is that it has to do with the type of coating used on the front lens. Different sights have different coatings, hence the differences in blue tint when looking through different sights.
I would just find the model of sight that doesn’t make the issue raise it’s ugly head and trade my Aimpoints for that.
Which model of Aimpoint, or is it all models?
An H1 or micro not so bad but noticeable longer I look at it.
M2 no issues. (Used one for a while and stupidly traded it for something else. It was solid)
M3 or M4 is what gets me.
Never tried a PRO. I’m told it is similar to the older M2 but can not speak to that.
Never thought of the coating.
That raises a good question and something to look into.
If it matters I have floaters ever since my first really good concussion forever ago.
Diamondback
12-27-19, 15:44
Fly, no technical input to give but as a fellow sufferer of vision issues I wanted to wish you luck debugging this.
An H1 or micro not so bad but noticeable longer I look at it.
M2 no issues. (Used one for a while and stupidly traded it for something else. It was solid)
M3 or M4 is what gets me.
Never tried a PRO. I’m told it is similar to the older M2 but can not speak to that.
Never thought of the coating.
That raises a good question and something to look into.
If it matters I have floaters ever since my first really good concussion forever ago.
I'm no medic, just someone who's treated their body like a wrecking ball for 50 years.
IMHO, an old head injury could cause issues with vision and balance difficulty when focusing on a distinct point for a period of time. BTDT. You might even see the onset of nystagmus without drinking any alcohol. A trip to the doctor may be in order.
Eye floaters come with age, especially if you participated in contact sports or had a lot of rough contact during the course of your employment. BTDT. An excessive number of floaters merits a trip to the ophthalmologist. If your family has a history of macular degeneration, a scan of the rear of the eye might be suggested by the doctor.
I have Aimpoints on 2 carbines. I have to index the red starburst on the target and take what I can get. Keeping both eyes open and setting the brightness of the dot to the lowest workable level helps a little bit.
grizzlyblake
12-27-19, 18:16
Can you get your hands on a T2? I moved from a PRO to a T2 and it's a completely different experience. Aimpoint claims they did all sorts of new whiz bang lens stuff so that they work better with the magnifiers, but the result in my eyes is a much sharper dot and less overall distortion.
Have not tried T2.
Per T2C, very much noted. Yeah it’s been rough at times. Not getting younger. Something I’m gonna bring up at eye doctors. Had new prescription this year. Eyes not that bad for my age but will never be 20/20 again. Didn’t think to ask but no macular degeneration nor cataracts.
But my bell has been rung more than once and certainly against my will. Gunfire indoors by my face certainly didn’t help either.
I’m gonna track down a PRO or an M2 at some point. I liked the M2.
Is the problem present looking through the Aimpoint with either eye? Have you tried both eyes?
Floaters are a fact of life for those of us who are fortunate enough to get older. Living with them can be frustrating.
Firefly should appreciate this....I still compete with iron sights and have to wait for the floaters to move out of the way before taking the shot. It's a good thing to have 20 minutes to fire 20 rounds in the offhand position, a lot of that time is expended waiting on floaters to get the H@!! out of the way.
The old man use to say "Gettin' old ain't for wimps!"
Human balance requires input from the eyes, the vestibular system (inner ear), the brain, and the extremities and joints (positional and pressure sensors). Changes to eyesight, weakening of the vestibular system (vestibular pathology, age, certain drugs, tobacco/nicotine use, alcohol, diabetes, among others), arthritis of the joints can all have deleterious effects on balance. You may be noticing some changes in vision and in your vestibular system where the lens or coating in the CompM4 affects your vision, which then reveals some vestibular weakness.
Also, menieres is a very specific diagnosis. You don’t likely have it based on what you’ve posted thus far.
Human balance requires input from the eyes, the vestibular system (inner ear), the brain, and the extremities and joints (positional and pressure sensors). Changes to eyesight, weakening of the vestibular system (vestibular pathology, age, certain drugs, tobacco/nicotine use, alcohol, diabetes, among others), arthritis of the joints can all have deleterious effects on balance. You may be noticing some changes in vision and in your vestibular system where the lens or coating in the CompM4 affects your vision, which then reveals some vestibular weakness.
Also, menieres is a very specific diagnosis. You don’t likely have it based on what you’ve posted thus far.
What is the best way to compensate for these health issues when using an optic?
What is the best way to compensate for these health issues when using an optic?
That’s tough. There are vestibular exercises that can help the vestibular system adapt. They may help. The degradation of balance is just one more component of aging.
This is a good start:
https://www.umc.edu/Healthcare/ENT/Patient%20Handouts%20-%20ENT/Otology%20Handhouts/vestibular-exercises-2016.pdf
Human balance requires input from the eyes, the vestibular system (inner ear), the brain, and the extremities and joints (positional and pressure sensors). Changes to eyesight, weakening of the vestibular system (vestibular pathology, age, certain drugs, tobacco/nicotine use, alcohol, diabetes, among others), arthritis of the joints can all have deleterious effects on balance. You may be noticing some changes in vision and in your vestibular system where the lens or coating in the CompM4 affects your vision, which then reveals some vestibular weakness.
Also, menieres is a very specific diagnosis. You don’t likely have it based on what you’ve posted thus far.
Josh. Lots of good info here. Thanks. I didn’t think I had menieres. Just googled vertigo and vision.
Will read that link.
I am getting older, but I am not diabetic nor pre. Just one of those things. Maybe lay off the smokes( resolution to quit).
I really didn’t notice this until I got an outright TBI a few years ago(whole thread on the health forum). It’s just one of those things.
T2C, I know them feels. Thanks for your commiseration.
Diamondback
12-30-19, 15:12
Fly, just PM'ed you a lead on an M2 for $350.
patriot_man
01-07-20, 01:42
The front Aimpoint lens is set an angle and will distort the image through the tube. This is exacerbated on the micro line as it is set in a more aggressive angle due to the smaller lens diameter. Could be what causes this effect on your.
The front Aimpoint lens is set an angle and will distort the image through the tube. This is exacerbated on the micro line as it is set in a more aggressive angle due to the smaller lens diameter. Could be what causes this effect on your.
I did not know that. Makes sense.
Could it be that this Aimpoint is flickering so rapidly that you can't see it but your eye picks it up and your brain doesn't know how to process it?
I wouldn't say like an epileptic seizure but along that concept.
Anyway I hope you get it sorted out.
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Steve Shannon
01-12-20, 00:25
One cause of vertigo is when your inner ears tell you something your eyes dispute, or in this case one of your eyes. The distortion mentioned above could certainly explain it, as could a slight magnification present in the Aimpoint, which of course shouldn’t be there.
I saw that someone else asked you if it happens even if you switch eyes, but I didn’t catch it if you responded.
It could just be astigmatism and how your mind processes it. I would mention it at your next Dr visit, either primary care or optometrist.
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