Astigmatism

Astigmatism is a common vision condition caused by an irregular curvature of the cornea or the eye’s lens. Because of this uneven shape, light does not refract correctly and the resulting image is not perfectly sharp. Millions of people experience astigmatism, often noticing blurred details, double contours, or light points appearing “stretched” into a line or star-like shape. In everyday life, astigmatism is corrected with glasses, contact lenses, or laser surgery. When using aiming optics, however, it can cause specific issues. Astigmatism is a vision defect that makes light dots appear distorted — which is why the LED dot in red dot sights often looks deformed. The best compensation is a prismatic optic with an etched reticle, reduced brightness, or the use of corrective glasses or contact lenses. For airsoft and shooting, prismatic optics are an ideal choice for shooters who see blurred or distorted red dot reticles. Browse our selection on our e-shop.

How does astigmatism affect aiming optics?

With red dot sights that use a LED light point, astigmatism often causes the dot to:

appear not as a dot, but as a comet, smear, starburst, or blob,
become more distorted as brightness increases,
produce a “ghost image” or double reflection of the dot.

For people with astigmatism, a classic red dot sight can therefore be challenging to use — especially for precise shooting.

How to compensate for astigmatism when using sights?

1) Using prismatic optics (prism scope)
Prism scopes feature an etched reticle, which is not created by a LED light source. Astigmatism affects them far less.
This is why prismatic optics (e.g., Vector Optics MINI/MICRO) are the best choice for shooters with astigmatism.
2) Reducing red dot brightness
The higher the brightness, the more the LED dot “blooms.” Lower brightness can significantly improve clarity.
3) Using red dots with larger, sharper dots
Some models (e.g., holographic sights) offer better clarity for people with astigmatism.
4) Shooting with glasses or contact lenses
Corrective lenses can greatly improve the appearance of the LED dot.
5) Using optics with etched reticles
All riflescopes and prism scopes are less affected by astigmatism than LED-based red dots.

Astigmatism in airsoft

Airsoft players with astigmatism often prefer:

prismatic optics (Vector Optics, VictOptics),
riflescopes with fixed or variable magnification,
red dots with the finest possible dot set to low brightness.

However, the Vector Optics PARAGON Prism series with an etched reticle is the best solution — crisp image, no dot distortion, and fully functional even without a battery.