Both Eyes Open?

Do you shoot a dot with both eyes open, with or with out a blinder.  I been closing the left eye but know there is a reason to wear a blinder.  They do have you cover one eye at a eye exam I am sure for a reason.  I can shoot my dot with both looking down range it just seams better to close the left.   Maybe when I get my new glasses and can see better with the left I will try it some more.  I have a blinder I on my flip up glasses I use for irons but not used to the blinded and it bothers me.  With one eye I can't tell it I am looking at the targert or the dot.  Can't really with both eyes.  Don

My Optometrist who is a shooter (rifle) said I should always shoot with both eyes open.  Closing one eye actually will strain the open one.  He also suggested cellophane tape on the lens of the non shooting eye and a clear or white side blinder (if you use one) for the same reason.  Only blocking light to the non-shooting eye will put strain the shooting eye.
- Dave

I put a piece of matte scotch tape over the lens of the non aiming eye, and shoot with both eyes open. Matte because it won't glare from light.

Both eyes for me, no blinded, no tape.

zanemoseley wrote:Both eyes for me, no blinded, no tape.

I wish I could do that! I've shot both eyes open without blinders for so long with iron sights. Then I got used to using an adjustable aperture and still no blinders. When I got into this sport I noticed my Ultradots look funny if I don't use a blinder or close one eye. I've looked through other red dots before like Aim Point and some others and haven't had this issue. Next year I'm replacing my Ultradots with something a little better. I would prefer to shoot both eyes open but my equipment has dictated how I shoot it seems.

Great question!

Professional opinion tends toward keeping both eyes open and using a light-colored opaque occluder (blinder). I'll let those professionals weigh in on the "why". From a shooter's standpoint, I've been doing that for 20+ years, with iron sights and dot, and my results are what they are.

(Advance apologies for typos; on fone)

I'm one of the lucky 10% that are cross dominant - left eye and right handed. For me an occluder is necessary over my left eye. I use a light color. That way I can keep both eyes open and avoid eye strain, while allowing the same amount of light into both eyes. I see many shooters using occluders, cross dominant or not.  They help.  Some guys use the ol' scotch tape over one lens trick, which accomplishes the same thing.

Both eyes open, no blinder or tape. Much better with an Ampoint vrs. an Ultradot.
Eyepal on right eye for irons but still both eyes open.

Started with clear glasses, then added tape over left eye, then added an Eyepal, then switched to an iris, then removed the iris and went back to an Eyepal, then removed the Eyepal, then removed the tape and now shoot with clear field of view.

Spent about a year or so transitioning through all that after spending a few months with each.

I shoot higher scores using my dot, with both eyes open and no vision accessories.

For irons, I have a very mild +.75 reading glasses with an Eyepal on the right lens and tape over left lens.  This is what it takes to bring the front sight into focus for me.

https://www.ssusa.org/articles/2016/3/7/expert-forum-eye-dominance/

This was a reprint and modified article in Shooting Sports USA one can find in Ed Hall's collection. The original title was "To Occlude or not to Occlude."

https://www.facebook.com/heinz.reinkemeier/posts/1993519014223618

john bickar wrote:Great question!

Professional opinion tends toward keeping both eyes open and using a light-colored opaque occluder  (blinder). I'll let those professionals weigh in on the "why". From a shooter's standpoint, I've been doing that for 20+ years, with iron sights and dot, and my results are what they are.

(Advance apologies for typos; on fone)

Mr. Bickar fails to mention he wears some very special and stylish X-Ray vision glasses! 

The physiological reason is that the optic nerves are "cross-wired" such that reducing light to one eye will cause dilation in both.  Dilation of the pupil in the sighting eye reduces acuity, and reduces depth of field.  A reduced depth of field makes it harder to keep front and rear sight sharp.  Some use an adjustable aperture, e.g. Merit or similar, to maximize depth of field.

Thus ocluding the off-eye with tape if necessary while still letting in light helps to promote acuity in the shooting eye.