Have Forsaken Red Dots

[r1derbike]

Cannot get a non-blurry red dot scope to work on my AR. I haven't tried ACOGs with magnifiers and diopter adjustments on them, as they are way, way out of my budget.

Have tried 3 different red dot scopes, different manufacturers, and price ranges and my astigmatism is a nogo. I have to use a +1 reader scrip for pistol shooting as it's the best compromise between slightly blurry 3dot sight and slightly blurry target, at 7 yards. Further, the target gets blurry very quickly. Scooted red dots as far forward as my rails would allow on AR 15, not good.

I am left with my Nikon 3-12X BDC600 reticle to permanent mount on the AR, and feel confident enough with drills at short range at just a point and shoot condition at close range from hip. When I do shoot at slightlly further ranges I sight with the scope, but allow POI variation because of the raised scope above the bore line.

I've heard lasik surgery has worked wonders for some, but others it has left in worse shape with halos, light sensitivity, worse vision than before, and a long list of horror stories.

I'm almost 60 and I need some actual feedback from those in the know here, if lasik percentages are acceptable, or not.

I should mention I had a vestibular schwannoma (tumor) treated with radiation a few years ago affecting my left ear, and feel it has stabilized my vision enough now that I may seek optical correction, if possible. Now, if I could just quit falling down!

Sorry for the long post, but I'd like some guidance from older shooters in-the-know about we old folks' special needs. TIA!

 

[soloban]

For what it's worth I have an astigmatism and get halos and blurrs from red dots. I've noticed it seems to improve if I'm wearing polarized sunglasses.

 

[sleepyone]

Me too. I need some kind of magnification and by the time you add even a 2 or 3x magnifier to a nice quality red dot like an AimPoint or Eotech you are out several hundred if not 1k. I'll stick to scopes and get all the magnification I need.

 

[plateshooter]

I gave up on red dots too (65 year old eyes). Always saw two dots and didn't know which one to use. I finally went to low power (1.5X4) scopes on my ARs. I can shoot with both eyes open and clearly see through the low magnification. Don't know if it would work for you, but you might want to give it a try.

 

[Outlaw Man]

Far from a useful statistic, but my father-in-law just had it done, and he's close to your age. He has been very happy so far.

I haven't noticed any problem, an I have an astigmatism. I don't know if it's my contacts fixing it or if I'm just too dumb (or blind) to notice it. I HAVE noticed that I shoot better with contacts than with glasses, and I often wonder if there's going to be a day when I can't wear contacts, and if I should get LASIK/PRK.

 

[Zeeemu]

You might consider trying DIOPTRX. They work well on telescope eyepieces.

http://www.televue.com/engine/TV3b_page.asp?id=54&Tab=_Choose

 

[r1derbike]

Thanks for all the suggestions, guys. I have a 1.0 lens I may try on the red dots opening and see if that helps, before the dioptrx route.

I'll get there, somehow!

Thanks, again!

 

[1KPerDay]

I'm personally not impressed with my $500 aimpoint H1. dot is blurry. Other shooters have tried it and confirmed. My $100 Primary Arms is better.

I still can't shoot red dots accurately, though. I shoot irons better for some reason.

 

[taliv]

i had astigmatism and nearsightedness and had lasik done when i was in late 30s. best thing i ever did. however it is true that i see more halos than i did before and my night vision is not as good as it was. a friend is a pilot and had it done and complains that he has lost peripheral vision and has difficulty flying now.

but it did fix my astigmatism and nearsightedness and made shooting a whole lot easier for me

 

[Kingcreek]

I had astigmatism that made my red dots blurry and comma shaped and I fought my optometrist over bifocals for years. He finally talked me into progressive lenses and I hated them so much I pulled the trigger on wavefront LASIK at age 51. Maybe I just got lucky but no halos no problems after initial healing about 3 months. I am 55 now and it's great. I need reading glasses only. my red dot sights are clear and my vision is better than 20/20. My night vision is good. I use eye drops for some dryness at times but maybe I would need it anyway by now. I have no regrets.