More important than how nice a blade's edge may look under magnification is what it does to the surface being worked.
This image shows an indication of a blade in need of a little honing:
Light Lines From Blade.jpg
The light lines (follow the arrows) are caused by small nicks or wear spots on the blade's edge. The socket to the left is what it looked like after a little touch up of the blade.
If a plane blade is cutting ribbons it likely could use a few passes on a stone.
You might need a microscope camera to see these defects. Without such equipment your shavings or surface will let you know what you have.
jtk
"A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty."
- Sir Winston Churchill (1874-1965)