Tying Flies with Old Eyes

I have recently started tying regularly again, after a long hiatus. I had great difficulty seeing what I was doing, especially when scissor work was needed. I tried the cheap magnifying eyeglasses that you can get at the Dollar Store or CVS. They helped, but when tying at night, I still had difficulty.

A friend made me fantastic profile plate so that my background colors could be changed from light to dark and back again. That really assisted me day and night, but close work and wraps were still a problem.

Searched a jewelry supply site for hangtag packaging for my finished flies and kept seeing photos of jewelers wearing headband magnifying glasses. Off to Amazon.com to check pricing ( $20's - $30's depending upon the magnification needed ). I placed an order for the Optivisor on Wednesday and it arrived today ( the strongest magnification for me ).

I have to tell you, they are incredible. Lightweight and they really focus in on the fly. I don't sell them on my website and have absolutely no affiliation with the company. This is just a super product that I wanted to share with you.

Dave,
I got one years ago but let me give one word of warning to potential buyers. I am very farsighted and I have parallax issues. My Optivosor caused me headaches and I haven't used it for years. For all that, I have several friends who love theirs.

Ed

Thanks Ed, Great point. I forgot to mention, I did call my Optometrist before purchasing these. She said that they should be fine, if I am just using them for occasional close-up work. If I get a headache, then I will stop immediately. After all....fly tying is supposed to be relaxing!!!

I not only tie but have taught wood carving for the past 30 years. As my years get more advanced (now 76) I found I needed some magnification.
My choice was the Optivisor with the #5 lenses. They fit right on over my glasses. I could not tie or burn delicate featheration on my wood carvings with out them. I have never experienced any headache or other problems with them. Even though some might think them a bit pricey. They are worth it to me. I also do not sell them, just a very satisfied user of the product for the past 30+ years.

Denny

I've used an Opti-visor for years, started when I had the first set of glasses. I was doing alot of gunsmithing work then and checking small part was very easy with the O/V. I use a 1 3/4 power and it works fine, no headaches, use it in short sessions. Works great when I tie flies, but I only tie down to size 14 for bream and up to about size 2/0 for bass. Y'all take care, John.

A little pricey at $50, but Orvis sells glasses with 4X or 5X magnification. I have a pair of 5X for midges. They are more comfortable to wear in long tying sessions than the visor style, and they allow these 70 year old eyes to tie midges down to size #32. I highly recommend them.

If cost is an issue....

http://www.harborfreight.com/catalog...lt?q=magnifier

I,ve been tying with some similar to these for years...no light though...I like the extra flip down lens when needed.

I also have the Optivisor and they are OK.

With either you can also wear reading glasses and increase the magnification some more.

Good magnification and good illumination....pricelsess.

Here I thought I was going to find a good pattern to tie with old eyes... Figured I have enough with bead chain, dumbell eyes and burned mono, but it wouldn't hurt to look. ;)

I use the Optivisor and a pair of dime store cheaters at 3.75X.
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