Red dot optics are designed to project a precise aiming point, but the way that point appears can vary from person to person. If the reticle looks distorted—such as appearing smeared, flared, or irregular—it may be influenced by astigmatism, a common optical imperfection in the human eye.

To help you better understand how this affects what you’re seeing, you can refer to the images and videos below, which illustrate how astigmatism may influence reticle appearance in real use.