How does your vision affecting your collecting choices?

XpipedreamR · April 27, 2006 2:33AM

It hasn't for me, at least not yet. However, very many adults develop presbyopia and need vision correction for close work, such as reading, and, I would imagine, coins. I often take off my glasses to get a really good look at coins, and I can't imagine holding something in front of my face and not being able to see it. Will using a loupe correct for this condition?

Have any of you had laser vision correction procedures, and how has it affected your ability to see your coins (if at all)?

Have any of you given up smaller coins in favor of larger, easier to see coins? Or, are even the largest coins still too small to be seen clearly?

I'd love to hear any perspectives related to vision and coins in general.

Barndog · April 27, 2006 2:35AM

My vision sucks and I collect half dimes. I must be an idiot!

mgoodm3 · April 27, 2006 2:41AM

My vision is still good.

XpipedreamR · April 27, 2006 2:43AM

My vision must be off, because the thread title doesn't look quite right to me

Rob9874 · April 27, 2006 2:45AM

I've often thought about how it would suck to go blind. Collecting would really have no point.

mdwoods · April 27, 2006 2:46AM

<< <i>My vision must be off, because the thread title doesn't look quite right to me

>>

I need reading glasses to see my coins well enough to enjoy them. Then, some slight magnification to attempt to grade them.

Bochiman · April 27, 2006 2:50AM

I get around the problem of coins being too small, etc.

My vision affects my coin collecting when it comes to color though.
I have color issues with my vision, so I cannot appreciate dark colors. Darkly toned copper. Dark toning on silver.

So, I don't collect some RB or BN coppers unless it is toned in colors other than dark brown.

lkenefic · April 27, 2006 2:54AM

I recently had to go with progressive lenses...they [in a word] suck. I have to take them off to look at coins and I have found that a loupe definitely helps me. I could have solved this by going with a bifocal lens (or even a tri-focal) but I didn't want to go down that road just yet...I may be old...but I don't want to look old!

I've also found the need to get a separate perscription for my other hobby...highpower rifle shooting. The progressives lack a correction in the upper left quadrant of the lens. I can still make out the front sight of my rifle but it isn't crisp. I also found that I'm constantly shifting position to accomodate this. All of this translates into poor scores.

Best of Luck...Leo

INXS · April 27, 2006 2:57AM

I am blind in the left eye, I have since given up trying to grade coins. I only buy TPG coins except for proofs.

vaq45 · April 27, 2006 3:00AM

I put my coins on the choo choo train tracks-after it goes by,I can read em real good

PhillyJoe · April 27, 2006 3:05AM

I would never be able to collect dimes. I can barely read the dates.

Joe

CharlieB · April 27, 2006 3:08AM

It's really a good point. I have gone for the larger more conspicuous dates and seem less attracted to
Mercs and harder to read dates, and St.#20 is tough to see that mintmark and date with the clashing of the
sun's rays as opposed to a $20 Lib. So I guess overall it has influenced my collecting over the past 10-15
years while I put on my reading glasses to see them.

xbob · April 27, 2006 3:26AM

I kind of gave up looking for wheat cent varieties due to eye strain (using a 10x loupe). So I continue to throw them into a container for the day I am ready to have a go at it again.

I even tried a QX3 thinking I could just view the cents on my PC screen. It was a POS toy that didn't work out as planed so it's back to traditional magnification when I try again.

Cladiator · April 27, 2006 3:40AM

My vision is excellent and I collect half dimes

OKbustchaser · April 27, 2006 3:43AM

<< <i>My vision is excellent and I collect half dimes

>>

Wait until you have done it another 10 to 15 years.

Cladiator · April 27, 2006 3:47AM

<< <i>

<< <i>My vision is excellent and I collect half dimes

>>

Wait until you have done it another 10 to 15 years.

>>

Yeah you should see the Coke Bottle Glasses that Barndog and Mr.HalfDime have LOL

Elcontador · April 27, 2006 3:51AM

If I can't get a good look at a coin with the naked eye, I avoid it. I wear progressive lenses, and for me, I find that if it's smaller than a dime, I can't deal with it.

RYK · April 27, 2006 3:52AM

I have X-ray vision™. I still do not care too much for trimes, gold dollars, and half dimes but will occasionally buy these.

DHeath · April 27, 2006 3:53AM

My vision is lousy without my bifocals, but the good news is lower grades look better.

relayer · April 27, 2006 4:00AM

I can't read the date on a cent anymore

Burks · April 27, 2006 4:06AM

Thanks to surgery I had done about two years ago, my vision is awesome. So it hasn't effected me at all (started heavily collecting after the surgery).

BlindedByEgo · April 27, 2006 4:53AM

I have a condition called proliferative retinopathy, where the capillaries in my retinas slowly grow with reckless abandon. Then they leak blood into the vitreous humor (not funny).

It's not too bad now, but every time the doctor does laser surgery (basically burning the crap out of the little suckers to get 'em to quit growing) I lose a few more rods and cones.

I enjoy my coins with pretty decent vision right now, but it's a little like the sword of Damocles hanging over my neck. Someday... Who knows?

How does your vision affecting your collecting choices?

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