August 29th 2021
Do you notice blurred crosshairs on your scope? Or eye strain when you are playing in matches? This is common, especially as you age. Eye strain can be caused by focusing too hard on your target (through the scope, over iron sights) for a prolonged period of time. There are ways to reduce eye fatigue. To get more oxygen, you can breathe deeper. Second, take a break from looking at the scope or other sights between shots.
There is a thread in our Forum about vision and eye fatigue. One Forum member commented: “I noticed that if I linger too long on the target, the crosshairs blur and the entire image gradually darkens like a cloud passing over the sun. I do wear contacts, and wonder if this is the problem. Has anyone else experienced this? Tommy
Tommy was advised by forum members to relax and take deep breaths. Increase oxygen intake, and also move the eyes away from the target for a while. Eye strain can be relieved by closing the eyes for a few seconds between shots. Tommy found that this helped.
Phil H. explained that Tom — Our eyes are enormous oxygen hogs. The lack of oxygen is what you are seeing. This is caused by oxygen deprivation. If this happens, take your eyes off the rifle and gaze at the grass. Cardio exercise can be very beneficial. It worked for me when I shot Palma. Those aperture sights were a pain! My cardio was better, and I could see longer. The same goes for scopes. It’s possible!
Keith G. observed: “Make sure that you are still breathing… [Your condition] sounds very similar to holding one’s breathe.”
Watercam agreed: “+1 on breathing. Take a slow, deep breath and exhale. To combat fatigue, make sure to look out at the horizon and not through your rifle or spotting scope. The same thing applies to iron sights.
Scott Harris, an Arizona shooter, offered this advice: “To some degree, [blurring sight] happens to anyone looking at something for a prolonged period of time. I try to maintain sharp vision by getting the shot done quickly or closing my eyes briefly to refresh them. Wrap-around glasses are a great way to keep your skin moisturized and protect you from the wind.
The Eye Problem Shooter Tommy said that he was able to breathe better and relax his eyes after he practiced his breathing. These techniques helped me shrink my group a little. Every little bit helps.
You can find more tips to reduce eye fatigue in our Forum Thread, That Vision Thing.
Eye fatigue can be avoided by moving your eyes away form the scope between shots. Instead, look at something nearby or close your eyes for a moment. You should also improve your breathing. Don’t hold your breath for too long as it can cause oxygen loss.
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Tags: Eye Fatigue, Oxygen deprivation and Breath Control
