Illuminated optics issue

[okie man]

So I've recently purchased 2 illuminated optics. First a swamp fox red dot for my 9mm pistol. The other a illuminated rifle scope . Seems my 53 year old eyes don't like them. I get the starburst effect with both of them. Is it time to see an eye specialist or just walk away from illuminated optics?

 

[Idaho Lefty]

Pretty hard to beat, the good old, Black crosshairs for, all around Hunting and Target shooting !
And, illuminated Cross hairs, are ILLEGAL,.. in some, States for, Hunting.
Lots of them, up for, Re-sale for some,.."reason" !

 

[VaqueroApache]

I Adjusted focus ring and cleaned glass of an oily smear? That worked for me.

 

[Rosebud]

So I've recently purchased 2 illuminated optics. First a swamp fox red dot for my 9mm pistol. The other a illuminated rifle scope . Seems my 53 year old eyes don't like them. I get the starburst effect with both of them. Is it time to see an eye specialist or just walk away from illuminated optics?

Try turning down the brightness of the dot. Some if not all of the grape cluster will go away. If not buy a Sig or Leopold.

 

[brcfo_outdoors]

If you think it might be your eye(s) try looking through them with your non dominant eye. My eyes are only 29 years young but I have a noticeable astigmatism in my right eye which is not present in my left. I thought all red dots were overrated until I simply switched to my other eye and realized it was me. Granted I still shoot with my right eye anyways.

Turning down the brightness as mentioned above or taking the red dot into a bright environment will make a difference as well. Testing things indoors is always deceptive. Most red dots I have found will appear to crisp up when you take them out into the bright sun and the extra light on the reticle washes out.

Lastly, at least with the pistol reflex sights the emitter is exposed and can get dusty. The dust is then lit up and can reflect onto the lens. Keeping the emitter clean helps keep your image clear.

 

[okie man]

Pretty hard to beat, the good old, Black crosshairs for, all around Hunting and Target shooting !
And, illuminated Cross hairs, are ILLEGAL,.. in some, States for, Hunting.
Lots of them, up for, Re-sale for some,.."reason" !

To be honest I've shot pistols with iron sights most my life and I'm still not sold on the red dot. I need to spend more time with the rifle scope before I can say I like it.

 

[Laelkhunter]

As Rosebud suggested, turn down the brightness, and the dot will appear sharper. Some folks, like me, have an astigmatism which causes a starburst effect when viewing the illuminated red dot. I have an Eotech 518 mounted on my M4 that I use for SWAT/Patrol Duties. If I turn it up too bright, I get the starburst, so I have it to where the dot is just visible but not overly bright, and the result is a sharp dot compared to a blossom of light.

 

[Rosebud]

I checked out swamp fox sight , it looks like a pretty good optic. Might be your eyes. Mine are getting some serious age on them so I went with Sig Romeo and a Leopold one mil dot. Neither have the grape cluster referenced with the swamp fox.