My red-dot sight is blurry?

Primary Arms is happy to exchange your sight if it is defective, but the issues you are describing are a common first impression and may indicate astigmatism.

If you have astigmatism, red dot sights may display several irregularities:

1. A cluster of dots or a blob. This could be dots overlapping or not. The size or orientation of the dots may vary, but they are usually blurry.

2. Starbursting. This can occur in tandem with clusters. The reticle may appear to be radiating or asymmetrical with various ‘arms’ in shapes or sizes. It can also appear fuzzy.

3. Abnormal shape. This can appear oval or as a line. It may also appear as a comma without a sharp tail.

4. Halo around the dot. This is prevalent among those who have had eye surgery or Lasik.

If you are uncertain about whether your sight is defective, look at the reticle through your rear iron sight. If you do not have a rear iron sight, you can replicate the test by punching a small hole in a piece of paper and holding it over the rear of your receiver rail.

Often, people will return a red dot sight thinking that it is defective, only to find that the replacement optic has the same visual irregularities. With that said, we want you to be happy with your purchase and we’re always here to help. Please call us if you have any further questions.

For more information and tips & tricks for shooting with astigmatism, please visit our blog post:

Using a Red Dot with Astigmatism: Tips, Tricks, and Alternatives