Choosing Astigmatism Red Dot Sight: Is Holosun the Best?

Everyone’s Astigmatism Is Different

Astigmatism changes how your eyes focus light, which can cause red dot sights to appear distorted—like starbursts, smudges, or streaks. The thing is it’s not the same for everyone. One person might see a dot as an oval, while another sees a comet-like streak shooting in different directions. Since astigmatism varies so much from person to person, finding the right optic is about matching it to your specific type of astigmatism.

So what works for someone else might not work for you. Recommendations are a great starting point but it would be best if you go to your local gun store / shooting range and ask a couple of sight models to see through with your eyes.

Lens Glass Matters 

Experienced shooters with astigmatism often find that sights with real glass lenses create less distortion than those using polycarbonate or plexiglass.

Holosun sights are known for their high-quality glass, which allows for better light transmission and minimizes distortion. A good example is the Holosun 509T, which not only boasts high glass quality but also tends to be generally better for astigmatism due to the enclosed emitter design that reduces glare and protects the glass from lint and debris.

Taken from r/ar15

Don’t Over-adjust Brightness 

New red dot users often crank up the brightness too high, which can make the dot appear worse. When the dot is too bright, the light refracts unevenly in your eye, making distortions more noticeable. So turning the brightness down can often help reduce this effect.

Optics with auto-brightness adjustment, like the Holosun 407C or 507C, are great for adapting to changing lighting conditions without constant tweaking. If the optic you’re considering doesn’t have this feature, try experimenting with lower brightness settings in-store.

Should You Always Go Green? 

While many people swear by green dots for astigmatism, don’t blindly follow this advice. It’s true that green dots are often easier to see and can cause less distortion for some, but astigmatism varies greatly from person to person. In fact, some individuals actually see red more clearly than green.

Here’s a quick experiment: stand at a traffic light at night and observe which color appears cleaner to you.

Also, while rarer, some sights offer gold reticles, which some users also find easier on the eyes.

2MOA vs. 6MOA? 

Dot size plays a big role in adjusting for astigmatism. If the dot you’re seeing looks like a fuzzy supernova, switching to a larger dot, a 6 MOA, for instance, might help. You can keep it at a lower brightness and look through it, focusing on the target rather than the dot.

Conversely, smaller dots—like 2 or 3 MOA—can appear sharper since their smaller size reduces the area where distortion can settle.

Another great option is a circle-dot reticle, like the one found in the Holosun red dots with Multi-Reticle System (MRS). These reticles offer multiple reference points, helping your eyes focus within the circle.

Enclosed or Open Emitters? 

The choice of sight housing often comes down to personal preference. Still, for shooters with astigmatism, enclosed emitters like the Holosun EPS, 509T, or SCS Carry might work a bit better since enclosed emitters reduce glare or reflections and protect against dust, debris, or lint that can cause additional visual distortions.