seeing what you’re doing when tying flies can be a challenge for some of us. my progressive lens glasses coupled with a head-mounted loupe (that black box thing that looks like an eyeshade) make it possible for me to see the fly and also check out the TV across the room when the commentators let me know something exciting has happened in the game i’m “watching”. the head loupe goes over the glasses just fine, and flips out of the way for a glance at the TV. 
what do you all do?
I wear reading glasses right over my bifocals
Still can’t see ****
:???:
Thankfully, as I am still young, I have no sight problems, though becasue I’m near sighted, I can generally see the fly better without contacts, but then I can’t see what’s on the Science Channel. 
What really helps me is to have a neutral, not too bright, not too dark background to contrast with the fly.
I use a cheap magnifying lamp from Cabelas, and I don’t like it because the magnifying lense is too small for my big fat head… or my eyes are to far apart. Either way I am going to buy the more expensive magnifying lamp if I don’t get it as a Christmas present.
Roy
Do yourself a favour and forget the magnifier lamp… I’ve tried it, but came to the conclusion that it’s absolutely worthless.
All I use now is the lamp, combined with a tube-light, and a good sight-board.
Being 55 years old now, it’s obvious that my eyes are not as good as they were say 25 years ago.
But good reading-glasses, perfect light conditions and a good contrast still makes it possible for me to tie rather small flies.
Hope this helps,
Cheers, Hans
I thought I was the only one that couldn’t see when tying. I have a LARGE magnifier with light right out of an old doctors office, and still wear bifocals.
That is why I tie nothing smaller than a 20 ( I couldn’t put anything smaller on a line anyway lol lol )
I’m extremely nearsighted and find that the best way for me to tie very small flies is to forget about the bi-focals and just take my glasses off. I get my face within a couple of inches of the hook and have been known to catch a beard hair in the fly but I can see better that way than any other.
Hi Casey,
I’ve got one of those black boxes with two levels of magnification, an extra right eye loop and two very bright lights mounted on the side of the frame. I feel like an old 1950 Buick when I wear that thing but it sure helps with small flies. I bought mine from Orvis at a very reasonable price if anyone is interested. 8T 
Right now the best thing that will help me is to get to the eye Doc for an updated pair of glass’s. Work and being sick have gotten me off track for getting there.
Fatman
Got bifocals a couple of years back and it was real tuff for me to tie flys with them and still can’t tie with them. So what I do is just pull my glasses down and get a little closer to the vice. Not ready for that big magnifing glass on my vice yet. But I know its coming some day.
I finally had to buy a pair of magnifier glasses a couple of years ago.
I can see the fly, and look over them to see the TV screen when something fun happens on the reruns of Buffy The Vampire Slayer I always have runing as background noise.
I think I paid $2.99 for the glasses. Good lighting (I am somewhat obsessed with lighting, I have two 100 watt Halogen spots, plus two ‘daylight’ bulbs and swingarm with a regular 100 watt bulb on the bench when I’m tying…the neighbor across the field can read from the light escaping from my shop window…) and a neutral background are helpful.
In any event, age eventually catches up to all of us. I find that my hands often do stuff that I didn’t see. Practice and muscle memory are wonderful things…
Good Luck!
Buddy
I also have the progressive bi-focals and a head mounted magnifier. Sometimes I use a magnifier mounted on a swing arm. However the thing that made the biggest difference was when my wife bought me an 18watt ‘daylight’ brand table lamp.
I was skeptical about the value of a $90 lamp, but I am now a true believer. The lamp provides so much more light I find that I am able to tie with out the magnifier most of the time, at least down to size 18.
The wide surface area of the compact flourecent bulb eliminates a lot of the shadow my hands cast used to cast with my old incandesent lamp. The light is noticably brighter than a 100 watt bulb and I have lots more room to tie. The lamp also does not produce an excessive amount of heat, this lets me move the bulb much closer to my work.
They come in a wide range of magnification . I use a #4 mostly , and keep a loupe handy if needed .
I have a special magnification Lamp and another high lumination lamp aimed at the vise.
This is all important not just when I’m tying 32’s but I use it for all work since I get very detailed.
Depite all this, I still wear bi-focals (sad to be getting old and as blind as a bat) !!!
Pretty bad when it takes about 15 minutes to tie on a size 22 BWO to a tippet.
I wear progressive lenses. I cannot see the little stuff at all in order to tie. I have tried a magnifier that bends down…but it feels weird to use. So I rarely use the thing, it just mainly sits on the desk. I look at a fly now and then, but find tying with it impractical. I have just about stopped trying to tie the little bugs…Size 12 and above is what I feel comfortable doing. 16 and 14’s are the absolute smallest I will ever attempt, and that is rare.
I also wear bifocals and need help with small flies. I have all kinds of magnifiers but the one I use most are flip focals I think they’re called. they clip on my glasses like clip on sunglasses.
knucks