Red/Green dot sights and people with astigmatisms

[DustyGmt]

So I was reading about some of the benefits of a green dot over a red dot and while I've always been a fan of the red dot and never really had an issue with them, found some to be crisper than others but nothing that really bothered me.

I read that people that have astigmatisms will be better served with a green dot. Well my uncle really liked my aimpoint and while he does have astigmatism he found the Aimpoint red dot to be crisp and clear. When we finished his build and he was trying to decide on an optic, I tried to nudge him toward the aimpoint because it was a quality piece that was known to be crisp and shouldn't have an issue. He did some research and was leaning toward the aimpoint at first but then shifted his focus to the MRO Triji with Green dot. Well he waited like 6 months for his optic to finally arrive and he says it looks like a blurry dot split 4 ways. Not a nice crisp, round dot.

Has anybody else experienced this with the MRO or is it possible he got a bad dot or is it more likely that the astigmatism is just a funky variable that effects everybody differently and should maybe shop for a new dot. I told him before he goes and ships it back to let me look at it to see if it's a bad dot that maybe he just needs a replacement since I dont have astigmatism that I know of but I was just wondering if anybody knew of a way to tell for sure if it's the dot or the eye. It's been a painful wait and he took his time selecting a dot and now he isnt really thrilled with his purchase. Just trying to help him out with advice.

 

[chicharrones]

I have astigmatism. I have an easier time picking out a red dot on any color background than a green dot.

I figure the color preference will be determined by what the shooter's eyes can see easier. Not sure why astigmatism alone would factor into the color of the dot?

Regarding dots being clear or broken into "grape clusters" or simply just blurry, I've always been able to fix that with a new prescription of glasses. Provided that the dot in the sight hasn't gone weird.

 

[DustyGmt]

Not sure why astigmatism alone would factor into the color of the dot?

Yeah I'm not really sure either, it's just what I was reading. It didnt work out that way in my uncles case.

 

[DustyGmt]

I've heard a pair of polarized glasses will make your dot crisp. Is there any chance that somebody makes a polarized lens cap for red dots. Is it even a thing?

 

[chicharrones]

I've heard a pair of polarized glasses will make your dot crisp. Is there any chance that somebody makes a polarized lens cap for red dots. Is it even a thing?

I know that the classic tube type UltraDots typically include an adjustable polarized objective lens that is detachable. But the stated reason for usage is to darken the target a bit so that the LED brightness can be turned down for increased battery life on a bright day. That could make the dot crisper by eliminating glare coming from the front of the dot, I suppose.

 

[herrwalther]

I've heard a pair of polarized glasses will make your dot crisp. Is there any chance that somebody makes a polarized lens cap for red dots. Is it even a thing?

That was true for me. I noticed my astigmatism in my right eye when my handgun red dot was set to 3MOA and green. Adding sunglasses lessened the distortion some but not enough. Changing my reticle to the 36 MOA (dot and circle) made the distortion go away entirely. I have an appointment with my optometrist to get astigmatism correction in my next set of eye glasses.

 

[Aguila Blanca]

The choice of a green dot over a red dot has more to do with color vision, specifically red-green weakness. That's a type of color blindness, but people who have it aren't totally color "blind," they just don't see reds and greens the way most people do.

I have both astigmatism and severe red-green weakness. I can only use a red dot sight indoors or in low light. Outdoors on a sunny day, I can't see the dot. When I attend lectures that are based on Powerpoint displays, if the presenter uses a red laser pointer -- I don't see the dot on the screen. At all -- no matter how hard I try to look for it. But I can see a green laser pointer or a lavender laser pointer (which is what I use when I do Powerpoints), and a green dot optic works just fine for me. The astigmatism has never made the dot fuzzy.

 

[JERRY]

I find the green easier to pick up in bright sunlight. I prefer the red for night though.

 

[Howland937]

Following this thread since I have an astigmatism and have had no luck getting correction for it.

 

[crazydice]

Not very usefull info, but i also have astigmatism

I own 8 aimpoints and they do not realy cause a big issue.

The 2moa ones without magnifiction are not affected at all, the ones with 2x magnification sometimes give me a problem.

But i have a deltapoint pro 2.5moa on a pistol and this is the worst for me. At first i though the piece was broken as the dot was not crisp at all and was all blury.

When I hold my hand in front of my eye and make a fist to create a smaller tunnel of light the dot becomes crisp.

Tried a set of polarised glasses without any real improvement / difference

Also notice a difference from day to day

So my point being : I do believe that each shooter needs to determine what works for him and there is no handbook / guideline to help you find out what you need. ‘Aybe a certaincolor or brand works for you while it doses not for someone else with the same condition

 

[12Bravo20]

I have astigmatism that isn't too bad with my progressive bifocals. I get a bloom when not wearing my glasses. For me green is easier to pick up. Everyone's eyes are different, go with which color you see the best.

 

[Pat Riot]

I have astigmatism. I have 2 Sig Romeo 5 red dot sights. I also had red fiber optic sights on a couple of my guns. When the red light is too bright the sights or red dots blob out on me. If I reduce the setting on my red dot the dot is crisp but increasing brightness on the red dot distorts the dot and it becomes a blob.

Have your uncle try turning the settings down in his red dot. That may help.

On one of my guns that I had removed the red fiber optic I installed a green fiber optic sight. In the same light that made the red sight distorted the green sight is crisp and clear.

I will probably replace my red dot sights with green but for now I just keep the brightness settings low.

 

[tarosean]

100% up to your eyes..

I shoot red dots but prefer green fiber optics.

(Astigmatism in dominate eye)

 

[792mauser]

My holosuns all bloom a bit, my aim point as well.
Played with a Eotech and didn't get any noticeable bloom.

Unfortunately I also have astigmatism.

 

[Walkalong]

I have some astigmatism, and using 1.00 readers makes the dot round for me, better quality dots distort less for me, but even they tend to bleed out bottom left these days. Still usable. I like green over red if available.

 

[Tommygunn]

Heck, I just like green dots. Red ones are ok. I've got some of both. I have a few you can switch back & forth too.

 

[Austin Albright]

I have astigmatism. I have 2 Sig Romeo 5 red dot sights. I also had red fiber optic sights on a couple of my guns. When the red light is too bright the sights or red dots blob out on me. If I reduce the setting on my red dot the dot is crisp but increasing brightness on the red dot distorts the dot and it becomes a blob.

Have your uncle try turning the settings down in his red dot. That may help.

On one of my guns that I had removed the red fiber optic I installed a green fiber optic sight. In the same light that made the red sight distorted the green sight is crisp and clear.

I will probably replace my red dot sights with green but for now I just keep the brightness settings low.

You are describing my experiences exactly on the Sig Romeo 5. Seems to be a little better on the old aimpoint I have.

 

[FROGO207]

I have 5 or6 red dot scopes when I turn up the brightness for daylight use I get a backwards comma in varying digrees. I do have a astigmatism in my right eye. I may have to try a green dot and see if it is any better.

 

[GBExpat]

I have found that if the red or green dot looks a bit "sparkly" I can just pop up the rear, co-witnessed aperture sight to look thru and the dot sharpens right up.

FWIW.

 

[CharliesHammer]

I'm near sighted, far sighted, and have an astigmatism, I prefer red over green on my sights, and greens for my targets especially outdoors. I also shoot best with no correction, sights or targets. I paid a bunch of money to a sports optometrist who only made ****e worse. Considering lazer surgery.

 

[lionking]

I have found red or green is better just depending on the target you are focusing on, for me green is better on a dark target in high daylight.

 

[straightShot]

Try a prism scope instead of a red dot.

 

[Erief0g]

I have an astigmatism. The dot on my wife vortex sparc has a multi pointed star look without glasses. Thought it was bad upon mounting. Then put my glasses on and it's a perfect dot.

My sro it not nearly as distorted. I think the extra eye relief does help but honestly I always shoot with corrective lenses.

It was rather funny when I was trying to take a close up picture of the dot and on the camera it was clear. A moment of pause is what I had...

 

[doubleh]

I don't have astigmatism but began having a dot flare problem with a couple of my red dots. It seems cataracts will do the same thing to some extent.

 

[Tommygunn]

I don't have astigmatism but began having a dot flare problem with a couple of my red dots. It seems cataracts will do the same thing to some extent.

As someone who has had cataracts in both eyes I strongly recommend having an eye doctor treat them as efficiently as possible. Don't procrastinate; there is no benefit to doing that!!!!