I am 69 and have only 1 eye as I put my right eye out with a pair of shears when I was 16. I was diagnosed at age 33 with macular degeneration. I have used about every item mentioned above at one time or another...I use a combination of...white behind the the needle and looking at the eye from a slight angle I have also noticed natural light does help..So get your eyes checked and keep on stitching!!!!!