I found with advancing age I needed the auto darkning helmuts. Not until I was past 65 though.

Too hard to find the start point accurately without them. Although very strong illumination on the workpiece may have helped somewhat.

Part of the problem was my welding very small parts as well . Like a nut on a broken bolt to extract it. I too have heard that full time welders do not like the auto units as well though.

I can still see well in general. It just seems there has been some gradual deterioration of the dynamic range of light levels my eyes range to.