October 13th 2023Does your scope’s crosshairs become blurry over time, or do you feel eye strain when playing a game? This is normal as you age. Eye strain can be caused by focusing intensely on a target (through a scope or iron sights) over an extended period. There are ways to reduce eye fatigue. One way to increase oxygen intake is to breathe in deeper. In our Forum, there is a thread that discusses vision and eye fatigue. One Forum member noted: “I’ve noticed that if I stare at the target too long, the crosshairs start to blur. The whole image darkens gradually as if there was a cloud over the sun. I wear contacts, and wonder if this is the problem. Anyone else had this problem? Tommy”Forum members told Tommy to relax and breathe deeply. Increase oxygen intake, and move your eyes away from the target for a little while. Close your eyes between shots to relieve eye strain. Tommy said that this helped. Phil H. explained, “Tom – Our eyes are oxygen hogs.” You are seeing this because of a lack of oxygen. If this happens, take your eyes off the sights and look at the grass. (Most people find green relaxing). Then, breathe, and then return to the rifle. Cardio can be a great help. It worked for me when I shot Palma. These aperture sights were a pain! The better I got at cardio, the better and longer my vision was. Try it! Try it!” Keith G. noted: Make sure you’re still breathing… Your condition sounds similar to holding one’s breathe. Watercam agreed: “+1 on the breathing. Take a deep, slow breath. Exhale and then break the shot. You should also take a few moments to look out at the horizon, without looking through your rifle or spottingscope. This will help you to avoid fatigue. The same thing happens when you use iron sights.” Arizona shooter Scott Harris gave this advice: “To a certain extent, [blurring of vision] happens to everyone who stares at something for a very long time. I keep my vision sharp by taking the shot quickly or closing my eyes briefly to refresh it. Also, protect your eyes from wind with wrap-around sunglasses and keep them moisturized.Tommy, the shooter who had an eye problem, said that his vision improved when he focused on his breathing, and took a break between shots. “Thanks guys.” The techniques helped me reduce my group a little and every little helps. Read more tips to reduce eye fatigue in the forum thread: That Vision Thing. To avoid eye fatigue, look away from the scope and at something nearby between shots (or close your eyes for a few seconds). Work on your breathing, and don’t hold it for too long. This will deplete your system of oxygen.
Tags: Breathing, Oxygen Deprivation, Eye Fatigue and Shooting Skills
