Eye sight as a coin collector.

relicsncoins · February 6, 2025 1:10AM

I've always had pretty decent eye sight and had no problems seeing details on coins with no magnification. Around 48 I started squinting to see the same details. By 51 I was wearing 1.5 magnifiers. I'm about to turn 55 and am up to 1.75X. Any advice for those that have been there?

PerryHall · February 6, 2025 2:27AM

Get your eyes checked by a doctor. You are getting to the age when people start getting cataracts which everyone will eventually get if they live long enough.

DisneyFan · February 6, 2025 3:01AM

Look for a 5X magnifying glass that allows you to see the whole coin, distortion free.

coinkat · February 6, 2025 3:53AM

Develop a magnification strategy that meets your needs. And in writing that I am not implying that there is an issue with your vision. Instead magnification helps build necessary confidence in buying a coin that meets your expectations. Of course, having reasonable expectations helps.

I use minimal magnification up through a microscope depending on what I am attempting to accomplish by the coin examination.

rte592 · February 6, 2025 3:57AM

Take a picture with your phone.
Enlarge the picture, review the small details 👍
I may have done that more than I admit. 🤔
Get you're eyes checked.

Meltdown · February 6, 2025 5:24AM

I'm in the same boat and roughly the same age... can't even go out to dinner without readers anymore to read the menu.
All my life I've had 20/20 and over the course of 3 years I'm forced to carry glasses.

MJPHELAN · February 6, 2025 5:38AM

It's called presbyopia. The natural lens in the eye becomes less flexible starting around age 40 and cannot focus up close and glasses are needed for near vision. People who are myopic (nearsighted) can focus up close without their distance glasses. Besides glasses, there are some surgical options, but in my opinion, reading glasses are the best way to go.

mark

Maywood · February 6, 2025 5:56AM

Around the age of 41-42 I looked at the change in my pocket one day and spotted a Wheat Cent. When I looked to see the date I had to pull it close, strange for me. I was a tool and die maker my entire career and always did up close, fine work easily and had better than 20/20 vision. This caused me to take notice. Shortly afterwards I had my eyes checked and got my first pair of spectacles.

Since then my eyes have gotten progressively worse, I'm now 70 and wear the glasses most of the time. @MJPHELAN and @PerryHall offer good advice. Get your eyes checked and don't try to "self-medicate" with the over the counter pharmacy reading glasses. Be kind to yourself and seek help, what is happening is quite normal and to be expected. Cataracts are almost unavoidable, they will happen as a natural fact of aging. The silver lining is that recent developments with outpatient surgery for that problem renders your vision restored.

Mr_Spud · February 6, 2025 6:19AM

I was born with a cataract in one eye that left me about 90% blind, the other eye so myopic and near sighted that I could see with the equivalent of a 5 x lens if I held a coin 2 inches of my eye. But then that eye developed a severe cataract where I couldn’t see coins at all except with a huge Magnabrite magnifying lens. Then I got the cataract removed and became very farsighted and couldn’t read or see coins or computer monitors without strong readers. Then I got a vitriol detachment that left a collapsed membrane in the middle of my field of vision that’s like a huge moving floater that moves around creating blurry distortions. But then suddenly I got back into coins and made up lost time with a vengeance.

My advice is to simply go for first impression eye appeal as a major factor in picking out coins with less emphasis on hits and hairlines. The hits and hairlines are still important, just not as important as first impression eye appeal. Then it doesn’t matter so much how good your vision is and whether you have your readers on or not and it’s cheaper and just as satisfying, if not more so, than focusing on imperfections you can’t see anyway. Then take it to the next level and learn the art of embracing imperfections. It’s an acquired taste, and moves your focus to a higher level than most mortals ever reach

GRANDAM · February 6, 2025 6:38AM

Love that 1894 Morgan

Cameonut · February 6, 2025 6:39AM

I feel your pain, so I'll share my situation as it is a bit different. I started with the run up of readers until I had cataracts removed in both eyes in 2023. New lenses are high tech and my vision is 20:20. I do notice a bit of blurriness when reading things beyond 3 feet and the doctor says I could use a reader of about 0.5 to 0.75.
So now I am back to readers for mid distance, but what I find more helpful is using a flashlight to shed more light on what I am trying to see. I'll be trying that again tomorrow at the Charlotte show.

LeeBone · February 6, 2025 7:12AM

Been there done that.
Collect bigger coins 😆

logger7 · February 6, 2025 7:19AM

I used to have really exceptional eyesight; too much time on computers contributes to eyestrain. I usually get readers, now up to 2.5x. I need to drink more organic carrot juice.

lermish · February 6, 2025 8:21AM

@logger7 said:
I used to have really exceptional eyesight; too much time on computers contributes to eyestrain. I usually get readers, now up to 2.5x. I need to drink more organic carrot juice.

coinbuf · February 6, 2025 8:29AM

I suspect that many have/are in your shoes. I'm in my early 60's and had to start wearing readers at around 60, it sucks in some ways. But the bright side is I have a really strong set of readers that I use to look at coins, now I very seldom have to use a loupe with those on.

I'll have my eyes checked this year for the first time in at least ten years, just a part of aging.

johnny9434 · February 6, 2025 9:07AM

I'm glad to have gotten mine checked and 2 successful cataract surgeries are gone. Tis good to see things 😉

relicsncoins · February 6, 2025 10:26AM

Thanks for the advice. I guess my idea of arm lengthening surgery is out.

seatedlib3991 · February 6, 2025 12:30PM

I did not need eyeglasses until late 2023 (age 62), when a medical crisis blinded me temporarily and then left me with residual damage. Today I have eyeglasses spread through out the house because like mittens when I was seven they seem to always be missing.
My biggest problem is I can never seem to find the rigth combination of eyeglasses (or not) when using a magnifier to look at coins. James

Cuprinkor · February 6, 2025 12:33PM

I developed an astigmatism as a child and have worn glasses since I was eight. I have very nearsighted vision which is apparently good for viewing coins.
Now into my 60's I much prefer to view coins with my natural vision (without glasses). I think I see the coins for what they are.
I do get an annual eye exam and the optometrist says my eyes are healthy - no cataracts, glaucoma, or macular degeneration at this time (knock on wood).

johnny9434 · February 6, 2025 1:13PM

I don't see it either, relics

BillJones · February 6, 2025 6:22PM

I used to be grade with no magnification. After cataract surgery, I need to use a B&L 3x I’ve had for years. I guard that glass very carefully.

I had been myopic since high school. It was good for my coin collecting hobby and later profession.

jesbroken · February 6, 2025 7:08PM

Until mid/late 50's, I never used a maglens for cents. I would look at buckets of cents and could see anything I wished to see with the naked eye. Then cataracts occurred, had surgery and wonderful, but required bifocal's. Sucked big time. No longer look thru rolls(other than for silver). I bought a decent camera and a nice large monitor and developed a hunger for attributing coins. Now can enlarge to search for the smallest feature and for last 15 or so years have developed a new passion for the hobby I had thought I lost. The worst degradation to my vision was the development of floaters(pencil eraser size), now that is aggravating. I can see fine but must avert my eyes to move the floaters.
Jim

ProofCollection · February 6, 2025 7:23PM

I'm about your age and I didn't like being reliant on readers so I went and got a new lens in one eye, it was about $6000 because it was completely elective but I am also now cataract-proof in that eye. It is tuned for near-sight and from what they say I should be able to read with it forever. My other eye had perfect distance vision so we left it alone. I still use 1.5 reading glasses for long term reading and computer work because it's just a little bit easier & more comfortable that way, but I no longer get in situations where I feel helpless and unable to read small or dimly lit text.

ELVIS1 · February 6, 2025 10:27PM

I have had 2 cataracts surgeries in the last year. I see better now than ever except for reading range.
It's an adjustment. It's weird because in my peripheries I see the ring outline of the lenses. its a small distortion but my sight is 100% better.

Walkerfan · July 31, 2026 6:52AM

Just had a scare yesterday. I have been being treated for glaucoma for quite a while now and managing it. My pressure has been good. A few days ago; I noticed that I could barely see out of my right eye. Everything was blurry. I got an emergency appointment with the eye doctor, yesterday. Turns out it is a cataract. I am relieved but now I have to have surgery. Still grateful that it was nothing more serious.

TallahasseeCoinClub · July 31, 2026 8:24AM

I have been laughed at and even derided (not necessarily on this forum) for having multiple aged clients with poor eyesight who collect ONLY cleaned coins. They simply are unable to appreciate (for example) a capped bust half-dollar in VF with dark, vintage patina, even though that happens to be what I enjoy.

There are some folks who have simply reached a stage in life where their eyesight will not or cannot improve yet they still want to enjoy the hobby.

Just another point of "view" FWIW.

Morgan13 · July 31, 2026 10:54AM

I use reading glasses and they work fine for me.

Rule556 · July 31, 2026 11:28AM

@DisneyFan said:
Look for a 5X magnifying glass that allows you to see the whole coin, distortion free.

Any recommendations? I've been thoroughly disappointed with most I've tried.

I had perfect 20/20 vision until I was about 45, when I started needing readers. I use 2x for reading and coins, and 1.5x for working on my computer. I find loupes difficult to use. I have a decent 5x Eschenbach magnifier that is okay, but it's not great.

Acarroll · July 31, 2026 1:50PM

@MJPHELAN said:
It's called presbyopia. The natural lens in the eye becomes less flexible starting around age 40 and cannot focus up close and glasses are needed for near vision. People who are myopic (nearsighted) can focus up close without their distance glasses. Besides glasses, there are some surgical options, but in my opinion, reading glasses are the best way to go.

mark

If I'm wearing contacts I have a hard time focusing up close, if I'm wearing glasses I just take them off and i hardly need a loupe.

jfriedm56 · July 31, 2026 2:13PM

See an eye doctor. I’m 69, and had cataract surgery last year. From age 8 onwards, my vision grew worse as I got older. I wore glasses from age 8-18 and in 1978 got my first pair of contacts. Last year had cataract surgery and my vision went from minus 600 before surgery to now having 20/15 eyesight, basically with no glasses. Changed my life. Think about it. Zack

johnny9434 · July 31, 2026 2:50PM

@PerryHall said:
Get your eyes checked by a doctor. You are getting to the age when people start getting cataracts which everyone will eventually get if they live long enough.

Word to the wise 👍

DMWJR · July 31, 2026 4:45PM

@johnny9434 said:

@PerryHall said:
Get your eyes checked by a doctor. You are getting to the age when people start getting cataracts which everyone will eventually get if they live long enough.

Word to the wise 👍

Just had cataract surgery two months ago. Didn’t realize how bad it had gotten.

Old_Collector · July 31, 2026 5:22PM

@jfriedm56 said:
See an eye doctor. I’m 69, and had cataract surgery last year. From age 8 onwards, my vision grew worse as I got older. I wore glasses from age 8-18 and in 1978 got my first pair of contacts. Last year had cataract surgery and my vision went from minus 600 before surgery to now having 20/15 eyesight, basically with no glasses. Changed my life. Think about it. Zack

Agreed. As a physician (not an ophthalmologist) I completely agree that an exam is necessary. While it could be presbyopia or cataracts, there are other potential issues and you should be sure and see an ophthalmologist for a dilated exam.

I was very happy two years back when I retired, as I no longer needed close up binocular vision for depth perception so I was able to have cataract surgery and for the first time in my life see well at distance (20/20 and 20/15) and after I had both done and stabilized I got a great pair of prescription glasses with coatings for use at the computer. I keep those at my desk for use there only and have a bunch of Walmart 2X readers for close up vision when needed in the car, and in multiple locations in the house.

Best of luck, your health and senses become more important as you age, not less.

JimTyler · July 31, 2026 5:38PM

I quit buying small coins

Walkerlover · July 31, 2026 5:41PM

@johnny9434 said:

@PerryHall said:
Get your eyes checked by a doctor. You are getting to the age when people start getting cataracts which everyone will eventually get if they live long enough.

Word to the wise 👍

My advice to everyone in this thread is go on a vitamin supplement course. I use something similar to the Areds formula. 500 Mg Vitamin C, Bilberry supplement high quality, Vitamin E. These are the crucial vitamins. I add a multivitamin as well and some fish oil and D. So far I have age related cloudiness of my lens but no serious cataract formation as yet and I am 74.

johnny9434 · July 31, 2026 5:49PM

@DMWJR said:

@johnny9434 said:

@PerryHall said:
Get your eyes checked by a doctor. You are getting to the age when people start getting cataracts which everyone will eventually get if they live long enough.

Word to the wise 👍

Just had cataract surgery two months ago. Didn’t realize how bad it had gotten.

I had both done here as well

Raybo · July 31, 2026 5:59PM

I'm like everyone else, I started to need lenses at around 40ish. My bigger problem is my damn floaters, they are horrendous.

Old_Collector · July 31, 2026 6:01PM

@Walkerlover said:

@johnny9434 said:

@PerryHall said:
Get your eyes checked by a doctor. You are getting to the age when people start getting cataracts which everyone will eventually get if they live long enough.

Word to the wise 👍

My advice to everyone in this thread is go on a vitamin supplement course. I use something similar to the Areds formula. 500 Mg Vitamin C, Bilberry supplement high quality, Vitamin E. These are the crucial vitamins. I add a multivitamin as well. So far I have age related cloudiness of my lens but no serious cataract formation as yet and I am 74.

Modern studies on retinal heathy uniformly support Vitamin D3 2000-5000 iu/day and some level of fish oil daily, ask you ophthalmologist about this.

Cataract formation is highly correlated to sun exposure throughout your life, diabetes, smoking, and corticosteroid use.

My Mom was 90 before she needed cataract extraction, I had it done at 65 because I wanted distant vision without Coke bottles for the first time since grade school and my doc was very cooperative.

Unknown · July 31, 2026 7:24PM

This content has been removed.

Walkerlover · July 31, 2026 8:52PM

@Old_Collector said:

@Walkerlover said:

@johnny9434 said:

@PerryHall said:
Get your eyes checked by a doctor. You are getting to the age when people start getting cataracts which everyone will eventually get if they live long enough.

Word to the wise 👍

My advice to everyone in this thread is go on a vitamin supplement course. I use something similar to the Areds formula. 500 Mg Vitamin C, Bilberry supplement high quality, Vitamin E. These are the crucial vitamins. I add a multivitamin as well. So far I have age related cloudiness of my lens but no serious cataract formation as yet and I am 74.

Modern studies on retinal heathy uniformly support Vitamin D3 2000-5000 iu/day and some level of fish oil daily, ask you ophthalmologist about this.

Cataract formation is highly correlated to sun exposure throughout your life, diabetes, smoking, and corticosteroid use.

My Mom was 90 before she needed cataract extraction, I had it done at 65 because I wanted distant vision without Coke bottles for the first time since grade school and my doc was very cooperative.

Yes I add 2000 iu every day of D and fish oil capsules daily. But C is crucial and Bilberry is a super antioxidant for eye blood vessels.

Eye sight as a coin collector.

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