+1 on the "third hand" devices. It will make your jobs sooooo much easier.

And I can relate to the vision imparement too. I look like a total geek when doing soldering or any up-close work.
I use either a magnifying visor (whilst wearing my regular multi-focal glasses) or I'll put on a pair of magnifying glasses (from the chemist) in front of my regular glasses. It's quite a look!
Especially if I add the LED headlamp to the ensemble! If my wife walks into the shed whilst I'm dawning these accoutrements, she'll just look at me and just shake her head... backing out slowly...