A question about scope choices with astigmatism

[Moe]

My wife is honestly my best friend. We shoot together and truly enjoy the experience. Every firearm I own I make sure she is able shoot it. She has been diagnosed with astigmatism. When researching it regarding shooting I discovered a few things. The general opinion is red dot and holographic sights are dificult for folks with this and that prism scopes are a better choice. Something due to the etched retical.

I recently picked up a WK180 to get back to rifle shooting as the AR has been parked for the safety of all man kind by our overloards. I mounted my Vortex 3X Spitfire on it and it works great. I would like to use more magnification as were in our 50's now and well, old eyes.

Will say a 6.5-20x50 Vortex Viper or 1-8 Strike Eagle work OK with astigmatism? I haven't been able to determine if the negative effets is all about illumination or not. Honestly don't give a rats a$$ about illumination for range time at 100m.

We shoot well enough at 100m with the 3X but I would just like more power if it will work with her eyes. I have learned that both prism and LPVO optics like the strike eagle are etched reticles but I am uncertain about higher powered scopes like the 6.5-20x50.

A long winded rant to find out is folks with astigmatism can shoot high power scopes but thanks for any feedback.

Cheers
Moe

 

[adamg]

Yes, it is the illuminated reticle (or red dot or holographic reticle, anything where there's bright light acting as your reticle rather than black) that does not work well with astigmatism. As long the reticle is dark black you are in the best scenario possible for the eye.

 

[Potashminer]

I am following with interest as I have worn corrective lenses for short sighted and astigmatism since I was 12 years old - 53 years ago?? Does not help when the bi-focals come along in the 40's and 50's for most of us. Do you have an option to use an acquaintance's outfit, so see what happens? Is a bit expensive to buy stuff to try and find out it doesn't work - out here in the boonies, is sometimes the only option...

 

[jacotsmith]

The Vortex Strike Eagle 1-8 is my favorite all around scope for my astigmatism. The 1x setting is damn near as good as a red dot for close up shots and I actually don't even use the illumination much at all anymore as I prefer the etched reticle.

 

[Biologist]

Hi Moe,
Not sure what you are asking regarding scopes versus an eyeglasses prescription that corrects for astigmatism?

I have astigmatism, and wear bifocals for near and far correction that has the astigmatism correction. (Progressive lenses did not work for me because there was too much distortion around the periphery).

I use my eyeglass's upper/main lens for looking in the scope and shooting. My eyeglass Rx corrects for the astigmatism. I have never noticed any astigmatism issue using scopes while wearing my Rx glasses, and I use both fixed power and zoom scopes. I have to sometimes bump the frames up with a finger to avoid looking through the edge of eyeglasses lens. One of these days I need to get a pair of proper shooting glasses that sit higher on the face, but I make do for now.

For shooting eye protection, I currently wear my normal eyeglasses and place those cheap yellow tint safety glasses over top - the ones sized to fit over top of normal eyeglasses (I think they are Allen brand). It looks dorky, but I don't care. The side temples of those safety frames stick out too far and don't allow a seal for earmuffs, so I cut off most of the side temples and rigged a string lanyard with a cord lock at the back for easy on/off and cinching them snug. The earmuffs seal reasonable well on the string, but I also double plug with earplugs anyway.

 

[kekservative]

All magnified scopes will have etched reticle. Astigmatism only causes issues with red dot and holographic sights, since they form reticle by projecting light.

That said, many people overestimate effect of astigmatism. I have it as well, and my red dot looks more like an uneven windshield crack. Still I am able to use it up to 100m just fine, and beyond that I'd need magnification anyway. Obviously your eyes may differ, but just because you have astigmatism doesn't mean you should abandon red dots.

The way to tell how much difference your astigmatism makes is pretty simple. Just look at your red dot through aperture of a rear BUIS. It will let you see the dot as people without astigmatism do, and decide if it is really that bad for you.