Optic Plan B: Astigmatism

[Razorhunter]

Having never googled the subject, I thought an astigmatism just meant one eye is weaker than the other, no?

Further, I do have an astigmatism in my left eye. It's much weaker than my right/shooting eye. It has never affected my shooting, since my right eye is gtg. So, are you guys that are experiencing problems, having problems due to your shooting eye being the weaker eye?? Just trying to make certain I understand the issue here.

[Failure2Stop]

The Leupold Prismatic is a viable, though not quite universal option.
I prefer solid reticles, and am willing to peel off a few extra bills to get a low powered variable.

Typos brought to you via Tapatalk and autocorrect.

[Dave I]

It gets complicated when a person gets to an age where presbyopia (about age 40) begins to insert itself in the equation of near-sightedness, especially true with near-sightedness and astigmatism. That makes for a rather challenging prescription.

That would be me.

Astigmatism is completely correctable with a proper prescription, but it requires that your optometrist be skilled in managing both axes (cylinder and axis) to correct for it, then that the optical lab that's grinding your lenses also be up to snuff. The two-for-one deals at Walmart Vision Center or the grind-your-lens-while-you-wait are horrible places to get glasses for someone who has any significant astigmatism.

I think my optometrist is pretty good. Part of it for me is my glasses are old, not bad but maybe one of two adjustments off. Nothing I notice unless I'm looking at some electronic red dots. Also, my eyes are so unfocused that they are actually between available prescriptions; they do not make an in-between so I have to wait until they get worse to get the very-moderately-better next prescription. My contacts were pretty-good when I first put them in, then pretty much perfect later in the day when I tried them, so maybe they were just a bit off in alignment. Also, later in the day w/ glasses it seemed better, maybe due to time of day, or maybe my eyes are just screwy. I don't know.

It seems fine for now. It might get even bit better w/ a kill flash. It might not bother me when I'm out and not noticing every little quirk. It might suck when I get older if my eyes get worse, so I might want to save up for my Plan B type optic several years down the road. I hate screwed up vision.

Anyway, thanks for the input. I think it's totally manageable now, and might get better w/ the kill flash which I was going to get eventually anyway, or even when my eyes are a little more used to putting the contacts in for the day. Hard to say. Regardless, it's been an interesting read thus far. It does make me wonder, why doesn't Trijicon make a 1x ACOG or the equivalent etched-reticle/fiber-optic/etc. sort of thing for people w/ astigmatism?

-Cheers

[SMT85]

I always made it a habit to use the peep hole on my irons
For precision shots and just use the star burst
I see for everything else up close
I always hoped aimpoint or eotech,
Would make some kind of compact
Red dot with an adjustable diopter
Of some sort, so the user could dial it in
For there eyes. Here's to hoping though

[samuse]

I have an astygmatism too and I use an Aimpoint.

I seem to get a more concentric blob with the PRO than with a 4MOA Micro. And the PRO seems to have much clearer glass.

I did use a 4MOA Micro quite successfully for a couple of years, I just never liked it for some reason.

My blob is an estimated 7MOA backwards comma that looks like a cluster of grapes. I zero at 100 and put the POI right behind the roundest part of the dot and I just use the whole thing for close in shots.

I've actually used it to successfully correct for wind at 200 yards.

[Ick]

I've actually used it to successfully correct for wind at 200 yards.

lol.

Improvise, Adapt and Overcome.

You a marine?

[John Smith]

Most opticians don't do this however you can have a pair of glasses made for shooting only. If you line up the optical center of your glasses with your shooting axis you can alleviate almost all the distortion.
You have to find the right optician.
Have you seen the Occluder sight?

[Hmac]

Most opticians don't do this however you can have a pair of glasses made for shooting only. If you line up the optical center of your glasses with your shooting axis you can alleviate almost all the distortion.

True, as long as the optometrist/ophthalmologist diagnoses the astigmatism correctly, generates the correct prescription, and the optician grinds the lens correctly to correct it. IME, optimal grinding to correct astigmatism is where most optical labs will fall down and you end up with a pair of glasses that aren't quite as sharp as when you were looking through the phoropter in the opth.'s office. Again, beware of "budget" eye care/refraction.

[John Smith]

A good refraction is most important. You cane have everything right and still improve it by placing the optical center in line with the shooting axis of your rifle.
If you have astigmatism but won't wear your glasses then you just need to live with it but it can be improved if you have someone that knows what they are doing.

[Ick]

Occluder sight? Not familiar with that. I will have to do some reading.