HELP- eye dominance issue

[Execpro]

Started competition shooting with 22 rifles at around 11 years old. Always shot right handed with right eye dominance.
In Over 50 years I have shot some 20+ hand guns and long guns without adjustable sights without issue.

I stopped shooting around August (2017) due to major surgery on my right foot requiring non weight bearing on that foot for about 4 and 1/2 months.That put all my weight on the left foot.

In June thorough August (2018) I purchased a Taurus M85, S&W 360j and a new Colt Cobra for CC. Shot them (sold 360j because recoil was excessive with +P ammo) last week and all shot approx. 2” to the left at 7 yards.

Had a gun Smith and a Police department fire arms instructor shoot the guns today and both hit X ring at 7 yards with both guns. I found out that I am now LEFT eye dominate shooting with right hand and that was why the rounds were going left.

I have a lens in my right eye (Cataract removed) for distance and only get a clear sight picture with that eye. My left eye is blurred at close distance so I have to use my right eye to sight with.

ANY and ALL suggestions on how to hit POA-POI on target aiming with the right eye,right hand shooting!
If there is a solution,it will be found on this forum with all the experienced shooters! HELP!!!
I’m told that I need to shoot left handed or get revolvers with adjustable sights. Is that my only option?

Be SAFE and Shoot often!

 

[RobertJ.]

I'm right-handed and left eye dominant.

When I was nine and started shooting for real, I did my best to use my left eye for right-handed shooting. My dad, who was a Marine, would have none of that. He taught me to keep my left eye closed when shooting.

I'm going on 50 years with that method, and while I know it's not technically correct (I found out years later that a good shot keeps both eyes open), I've always been able to out-shoot most of the people I know. As a seaman apprentice (e-2) I was 2nd best shot on my second ship, right behind a LCDR who had been on a pistol team.

So, try closing your left eye.

 

[Rpg]

I'm right-handed and left eye dominant.

When I was nine and started shooting for real, I did my best to use my left eye for right-handed shooting. My dad, who was a Marine, would have none of that. He taught me to keep my left eye closed when shooting.

I'm going on 50 years with that method, and while I know it's not technically correct (I found out years later that a good shot keeps both eyes open), I've always been able to out-shoot most of the people I know. As a seaman apprentice (e-2) I was 2nd best shot on my second ship, right behind a LCDR who had been on a pistol team.

So, try closing your left eye.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
What he said !!!!

 

[Old Arkansawyer]

Do you wear glasses? If so, place a small piece of scotch tape over
the left lens and keep both eyes open.
Otherwise, I agree with RobertJ above as to the easy and simple fix.

 

[ridgewalker]

I’m naturally a rightie with right eye dominance. But over the years I wanted to train so I could shoot lefty also. I increased the amount of left handed shooting until now I shoot 50/50 right/ left.
I was always shooting with my right eye no matter which hand I was using for my strong hand. But in the last year I decided to start training with my left eye also. What I found initially was I could see the front sight better with my left eye. As I used my left eye more, I found that when I shoot lefty, my left eye takes dominance. Now I mix it up with hands and eyes and I can shoot any combination to good effect. Maybe I am weakest with left eye / right hand but not so bad. This makes sense because this is the combination that I have had the least practice with. I practice at least weekly.

So maybe long story but my point is practice, practice, practice and you can become proficient with any combination.

 

[MajorD]

Li have been shooting left eye right hand for decades. I am a gssf master shooter and have earned a distinguished pistol badge, and at least based on my success, think eye dominance is a non issue pistol shooting. Most people shooting left ( especially after a long lay off from shooting) are due to trigger control problems not sighting problems.

 

[sheppard]

I agree with MajorD, I think you are having trigger control problems.

 

[Wise_A]

Did you actually check your eye dominance, or are you just going off the paper? What was the group size relative to how far off-center it was? Were there any perfect-10 "fliers"? Did you try a blank target drill?

Just going off the apparent point of impact from one session with three guns is like predicting rain next Tuesday because it was cloudy two weeks ago.

If the entire group was off-center, and much smaller than the amount of "miss", I think another factor is at play. Post-op stance/grip, lighting on the range, or just plain old mental management.

 

[Goldstar225]

My dad was right handed/left eye dominate. He shot rifle and shotgun left handed, handguns right handed. It did not hinder his handgun accuracy/precision.

 

[Lee in Quartzsite]

My wife is right handed with left eye dominance. She has learned to sight with her left eye while shooting right handed. She is almost an expert shot with her pistols...wins almost every Bullseye match she shoots in.

She recently had cataract surgery in both eyes at a well known vision institute in Las Vegas. I asked her doctor if it were possible to retrain your eyes to switch the eye dominance. The answer was "No"....the issue of eye dominance is determined in the brain and no amount of eye retraining will work. That was his opinion and I am sure there must be shooters out there that have tried to switch.

He also suggested that she wait a month after surgery to begin shooting again. In another week we will see what effect the surgery had on her shooting ability....she is hoping for the best.

 

[woodsltc]

I'm right handed and left eye dominate ....... I've never had a problem with handguns or rifles (scoped or open sights), I just close my left eye.

Now wing-shooting with a shotgun is another matter.....It's a struggle and I have to really concentrate to hit crossing shots.

I can and do shoot left handed with rifles and handguns, but just never have gotten the hang of using a shotgun as a lefty.

Don

 

[Execpro]

Thank you all for your comments!
I believe all areas have been well covered.
I am sighing out! Thanks again and I appreciate all your comments!

To answer Wise A, I agree with your last statement and yes I checked. I am left eye dominant.
It has been over a year since I have shot anything other than my 9mm Shield (All X ring at 7 yards) and a 360j (both shot about 6 weeks ago). The lighting was bad at the last range and I will start shooting again more frequently. As it’s been said “This to shall pass”

Be Safe and Shoot often!

 

[Oldiron]

Execpro, you can thank your cataract for changing your eye dominance. My youngest son had lasik surgery on his eyes a few years back and he lost eye dominance for either eye. He has since retrained his eyes and is back to right eye dominance.
Larry

 

[Wise_A]

Thank you all for your comments!
I believe all areas have been well covered.
I am sighing out! Thanks again and I appreciate all your comments!

To answer Wise A, I agree with your last statement and yes I checked. I am left eye dominant.
It has been over a year since I have shot anything other than my 9mm Shield (All X ring at 7 yards) and a 360j (both shot about 6 weeks ago). The lighting was bad at the last range and I will start shooting again more frequently. As it’s been said “This to shall pass”

Be Safe and Shoot often!

Presuming your eye dominance has shifted, then I'd suggest occluding your left eye while shooting. Scotch tape on shooting glasses works fine. Go with something light-colored and semi-transparent. Darkening your left eye will cause your right pupil to over-dilate, reducing visual acuity.

Re-training your eye dominance off the range can be done, but is an awful big commitment.

Now might be a good time to try out one-handed shooting. Try a bladed stance (right shoulder points at target). Your right eye should be looking right down your arm, and your left shouldn't be able to see the target.

 

[MT99]

Eye dominance does not change without a reason. Especially if your right eye had cataract surgery and the left hasn't. As you said, the right eye sees more clearly so it would be highly unusual to switch dominance from your clear naturally dominant eye to a blurry non-dominant eye. The only times I have seen this is when there is some occult pathology in the visual system of the previously dominant eye. Go see your optometrist to rule out disease. I would probably order an automated visual field test based on the history that you are giving us.