Red dot + my eyes = horribleness.

[dumbhunter]

Hi guys. I'm looking for some help. I've always been anti red dot because I've never been able to hit consistently with them. But lately, I've been challenging a lot of my preconceived notions about shooting and have actually improved a lot, so I thought I would revisit red dot pistol sights. To that end, I went to the range with my buddy who is a red dot-aholic. Long story short, my "groups" were more like Shotgun patterns. Almost by accident, I noticed his dot moving while the gun was on the bench. When I asked him about it, he said the dot wasn't moving. I lined my eye up behind it (gun was sitting on the bench untouched) and the dot was dancing. Funny thing is my green dot Eotech exps2 works fine for me.

Anyone else have this issue? What is up with my eyes???

I would like to be able to use a red dot because they seem to help people shoot faster and more accurately. Thanks

 

[Show Me]

Like the strobe light on a school bus. It messed you up.
All the free advice you want around here.
Go to the Optometrist.

 

[JDeere]

Take Show Me's advice if you want honest answers about your eyes...

 

[JohnKSa]

I've never heard of anything like that. I think I'd want an ophthalmologist to have a look at my eyes if I were having issues with things appearing to move when there's actually no motion happening.

 

[Riomouse911]

My dot issue is I get a starry shape if the dot is too bright, which I have read is due to the astigmatism that my eyes have and how they see the bright red image. If I turn it down a touch, it goes away and the dot is crisper.

I hope there’s nothing seriously wrong, but as the guys said only the medical pros can let you know what’s up with your peepers. (I shoot both eyes open with a dot. After you get an exam, maybe give that a try?)

Good luck @JohnKSa!!

 

[gofastman]

Hi guys. I'm looking for some help. I've always been anti red dot because I've never been able to hit consistently with them. But lately, I've been challenging a lot of my preconceived notions about shooting and have actually improved a lot, so I thought I would revisit red dot pistol sights. To that end, I went to the range with my buddy who is a red dot-aholic. Long story short, my "groups" were more like Shotgun patterns. Almost by accident, I noticed his dot moving while the gun was on the bench. When I asked him about it, he said the dot wasn't moving. I lined my eye up behind it (gun was sitting on the bench untouched) and the dot was dancing. Funny thing is my green dot Eotech exps2 works fine for me.

Anyone else have this issue? What is up with my eyes???

I would like to be able to use a red dot because they seem to help people shoot faster and more accurately. Thanks

Don't panic, BUT...

You need to make an appointment with an opthalmologist soon. This kinda sounds like it could be pressure on your optic nerve which can be a telltale sign of something very serious.

 

[doubleh]

I have never known of anyone seeing a dancing dot. I was having trouble with a mishapened dot when turned to it's brightest setting for a time although I have never had astigmatism. When my cataracts were removed the dots resumed their round shapes.

In the OP's case I would take the already recommended advice and see a professional. You only get two eyes in your lifetime and they deserve good care.

 

[mm93]

As mentioned above I also find I can't use a red dot without turning down the brightness as low as possible to make a more defined dot to aim with. The higher it's set the more starburst affect they have, and accuracy suffers for me.
I have one newer that has both red and green selections, plus multiple sight pictures from a simple dot, to crosshairs, to circles. I find it works best for my eyes as depending on sunlight, and what the target is I choose a different color or sight for it.

 

[dumbhunter]

Thanks guys. Yall got me a bit freaked out. I had to make an eye doctor appointment soon anyway to renew my contact lenses, so I'll just bump that up to asap.

Just weird that it only happens with red dots, but not holographic sights.... I guess I'll find out.

Thanks again!

 

[jmr40]

I tried several dot sights before I found one that worked for me. The Holosun sights seem to do better. And green is better than red for me too.

 

[JohnKSa]

I have astigmatism and it makes the dot misshapen, especially at the higher brightness levels. It will not make it move around or "dance" when the gun is stationary.

 

[Pat Riot]

Astigmatism is correctable with a savvy optometrist and good glasses.
Bouncing red dot? That would get me to an optometrist fast.
I hope your optometrist helps you @dumbhunter

 

[dumbhunter]

Thought I would give you guys an update. Went to the eye doctor yesterday. My buddy was gracious enough to let me take his red dot with me. I explained the situation to the Doc. He seemed perplexed, which made me a bit nervous. Turns out that I have a slight astigmatism in my non-dominant eye. Doc then looks at me and says "your right handed, yes? You wright right handed, yes? Throw a ball righty? I bet you bat lefty." To which I agreed, and said also golf and hockey lefty.
Turns out one eye with astigmatism and a hard core case of cross dominance is to blame. Each eye is focusing ok on their own, but some how the dot is causing them to fight for dominance, and it makes the dot appear to move a little.... weird!

 

[21H40]

Great news about the optometrist!
My dominant eye has astigmatism, but I've found that using a green or blue colored dot on lower power settings works pretty well. Something about the red ones makes them oddly shaped and spikey looking, but the green must be much brighter before that happens.

Also the reticles with the larger circle work pretty well with my eyes. The astigmatism still messes with the center dot, but the circle is fine.

 

[entropy]

Thought I would give you guys an update. Went to the eye doctor yesterday. My buddy was gracious enough to let me take his red dot with me. I explained the situation to the Doc. He seemed perplexed, which made me a bit nervous. Turns out that I have a slight astigmatism in my non-dominant eye. Doc then looks at me and says "your right handed, yes? You wright right handed, yes? Throw a ball righty? I bet you bat lefty." To which I agreed, and said also golf and hockey lefty.
Turns out one eye with astigmatism and a hard core case of cross dominance is to blame. Each eye is focusing ok on their own, but some how the dot is causing them to fight for dominance, and it makes the dot appear to move a little.... weird!

Toric correction of the astigmatism by what ever method you prefer will resolve the issue. Talk it over with the Dr. and optician.

 

[JohnKSa]

Each eye is focusing ok on their own, but some how the dot is causing them to fight for dominance, and it makes the dot appear to move a little.... weird!

Thanks for the update!

I've never heard of that happening, but it makes perfect sense once it is explained. I think that's an excellent result in terms of your optical health. I was trying to imagine what sort of problem could result in the dot moving and the options were not happy ones.

Now, as far as shooting goes, it's not so great. However, you can solve the problem by occluding your weak-side eye. You can either close it, or put a strip of scotch tape on the lens of your shooting glasses on that side. I like the second option better because it leaves you your peripheral vision and doesn't generate the eye strain that keeping one eye closed causes over time.

 

[Show Me]

Update is awesome, plus educational. Very interesting. Thanks for sharing!!!

 

[Pat Riot]

I am very glad you and your doctor figured things out.

 

[dumbhunter]

Thanks guys! Yeah, the funny thing is that it never happens with my green Eotech, which is obviously a holographic sights as opposed to a red dot... I tried just closing my non-dominant eye and turning the brightness way down and it solves the problem 95%, but I have just always shot a pistol with both eyes open. Now I want to try a green "red dot" and see if there's any difference.

Thanks again!

 

[SKILCZ]

Thanks guys. Yall got me a bit freaked out. I had to make an eye doctor appointment soon anyway to renew my contact lenses, so I'll just bump that up to asap.

Just weird that it only happens with red dots, but not holographic sights.... I guess I'll find out.

Thanks again!

Once you're cleared by your eye doctor, try green dots instead of red, and try non-circular reticles (e.g. chevron reticle). I like this one. Here's what the reticle looks like, as well as the ranging features:

 

[12Bravo20]

Glad to hear that you figured things out. I am cross eye dominant and there is enough difference between in both eyes that I have not ran into that issue. Some people do better with red while others do better with green. I do better with green reticles. The other trick is to keep the brightness turned down as much as possible and still be able to see the reticle.

I als have astigmatism and all my reticles bloom. Again, green works better for me and I get even less bloom with circle dot reticles compared to dot reticles. But it really doesn't matter if the reticle blooms, you should still be able to get the optic sighted in and hit where you aim.

A chevron reticle is another choice as long as it works for you. I find that I have a hard time focusing on the tip of the chevron with how my vision is. This goes for pistol optics and rifle scopes.

 

[zdc1775]

Thanks guys! Yeah, the funny thing is that it never happens with my green Eotech, which is obviously a holographic sights as opposed to a red dot... I tried just closing my non-dominant eye and turning the brightness way down and it solves the problem 95%, but I have just always shot a pistol with both eyes open. Now I want to try a green "red dot" and see if there's any difference.

Thanks again!

The Eotech is on a rifle I'd assume. If so, can you even see the dot with your left eye when you have the rifle shouldered normally?

And I'll second or third or whatever number it is now to try green over red but if it's really being caused a strong cross dominate issue I don't know that it will make a difference.

 

[dumbhunter]

The Eotech is on a rifle I'd assume. If so, can you even see the dot with your left eye when you have the rifle shouldered normally?

And I'll second or third or whatever number it is now to try green over red but if it's really being caused a strong cross dominate issue I don't know that it will make a difference.

Yes, Eotech is on an AR. Honestly, I'm going to sound like an idiot, but i can't close just my right eye... I am physically unable to. I'd have to tape it shut or something. It's just the fun of being me.

 

[pbearperry135]

I have tried a few friends Red Dot sights and I find iron sights work better for me.

 

[zdc1775]

Yes, Eotech is on an AR. Honestly, I'm going to sound like an idiot, but i can't close just my right eye... I am physically unable to. I'd have to tape it shut or something. It's just the fun of being me.

Doesn't particularly matter, I was just wondering if not actually being able to see the dot on the Eotech with both eyes was the reason why you didn't have the same issue with it as with the pistol dot.