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  • Post last modified:May 6, 2023
eotech exps3 blurry reticle

Is your red dot sight blurry? Most likely it's caused by the LED emitter red dot starburst or using a red dot with astigmatism.

Here are 5 things you can try to see a much more crisp dot for better aiming.

Most red dot sights on the market today have a clean dot under a digital camera. However, the most practical solution is to get corrected vision. Red dot sight companies that promise a clean dot for users with astigmatism is just a marketing move.

astigmatism eyes looking at night

If you see this while driving around the city, then your red dot will look like the picture on the left. The higher dot brightness will make the red dot look worse .

Shooters with different levels of astigmatism and bad eyesight will see smeared or blurry reticles due to the imperfection of eyeball curvature and it's different for every person.

eye shape astigmatism
shooters with astigmatism see this

We also recommend using prism sight where the glass etched reticle is much more clear for shooters with astigmatism.

Use A Bigger Dot

3 moa vs 6 moa dot sizes comparison

Please try a 6 MOA or bigger dot sight, so the bloom effect of the emitter red dot starburst is less under daylight use, and the dot is much rounder and crisp for shooters with astigmatism to see.

fn509 trijicon sro pov in action

If the reticle brightness is turned up on a 1 MOA dot, shooters will generally see the starburst more than the rounded dot. You can still aim with it, unfortunately that's the what shooters have to deal with.

Since everyone's eyesight is different, a larger dot red dots that work with astigmatism are the best, while there are multiple brightness settings.

Learn more: Difference between 3 and 6 MOA dot

Reticle Brightness Adjustment Matters

Watch The Video Below:

A user with astigmatism without wearing glasses will see a crystal clear dot when the brightness is dialed up under the sun. Outdoor ambient light will wash the LED emitter starburst away, and leave the shooter a round dot to see.

In low light settings, cranking up the dot brightness may appear that the dot is getting bigger, but it actually increases the glare, which can be very distracting. 

Learn more: How to set red dot brightness between for daylight and low light

Wipe Dirt Off The Lens

sig romeo 5 pov rain

Cleaning off dirt, rain droplets, finger smear and oil residue off the lens will do the trick for the most part.

For shooters that train under rainy conditions or have occasional mud splashes all over their rifles, keeping the optic lens clean is something the shooters have to do constantly.

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Use A Magnifier Scope

vortex micro 3x diopter ring

For a red dot with a magnifier scope setup, shooters must adjust the eyepiece (diopter) adjustment on the magnifier to focus the reticle.

The red dot and magnifier work independently, so the user must dial the eyepiece so the magnifier scope lens can focus on the reticle.

This works the same way for glass etched reticles on prism optics and long range scopes.

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