There can be a lot of confusion and mystery about what magnifiers can and cannot do.
Most people use magnifiers for reading, but you can use them for many activities and tasks around the home including needlework and DIY, as well as some outdoor tasks. Using magnifiers for long periods of time can be very tiring, especially when reading, and it can be frustrating. Magnifiers are most appropriate for 'spot' reading at home and when you are out and about to read bus timetables, shop prices and menus.
There are many types of magnifiers available. It is very important that anyone using them understands and appreciates the potentials as well as the limitations of the full range available.
Magnifier guide
Our "Choosing a magnifier guide" aims to help you identify the most appropriate level of magnification for your particular requirements, as well as understand the advantages and disadvantages of the various types of magnifier to be used for specific tasks. You'll also find descriptions of the range of magnifiers from RNIB. It is available to download in two formats:
We are now stocking a range of magnifiers up to 6x (six times) magnification.
Getting an assessment
RNIB and Action for Blind People strongly advise anyone with visual impairment to have a low vision assessment. This is an NHS funded service usually accessed through your local hospital eye clinic and is based at the hospital or run by a local organisation. You can be referred to the clinic by your General Practitioner (Doctor), Optometrist or Ophthalmologist. The assessment is free of charge and available to anyone with low vision.
Low vision means that you will be finding it hard to see things as clearly as you would like to, even after you have had your eyes tested and are wearing the correct spectacles or contact lenses. You do not have to be registered as sight impaired to access a low vision service.
At the assessment a qualified low vision practitioner will check your vision and assess your suitability for low vision aids such as magnifiers. These clinics are usually able to provide at least one magnifier to you, free of charge. As magnifiers can be difficult to use initially, low vision professionals will help you learn how to get the best out of the equipment they prescribe. If you have been discharged by your eye specialist, you can ask your GP or Optometrist to refer you to the nearest clinic.
Magnifiers can be expensive and you are entitled to have these prescribed for you by a trained professional. It is far better to use these services, than to purchase magnifiers without this professional help.
Before you buy
Before you purchase a magnifier it is vital that you have:
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sought the help of your usual local optometrist
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been advised that your vision cannot be improved with conventional correction glasses
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been examined by an ophthalmologist or discussed your sight with your GP
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been advised that your vision cannot be improved by medical or surgical treatment.
This is important because the health of your eyes is the first priority. If you are having difficulty with your sight the cause should be investigated. Many eye conditions can now be treated and this should be done as soon as possible. If you are housebound there are home visiting optometrists that can visit you. Your local authority will be able to give you details of appropriate services have asked your eye specialist for referral to a Low Vision Clinic
The importance of good lighting
Before you buy a magnifier, it may be as simple as improving your current lighting by adding task lights or improving general lighting in your home. RNIB and Thomas Pocklington Trust have written a guide 'Improve the lighting in your home' which is full of practical advice including hints and tips on how to light your home more effectively.
Types of magnifiers and their benefits
Handheld magnifiers
Handheld magnifiers are the most commonly recognised. Easy to use, they are available in different types and powers. Some have built-in illumination whilst others rely on natural light or task lighting. Great for spot reading in the home or while you are out and about.
Stand magnifiers
Stand magnifiers are very popular. They are specially designed 'fixed focus' magnifiers that stand on a page allowing you to slide the magnifier across as you read the print. Stand magnifiers will in most cases 'automatically' focus when looking through the lens, however you may need to wear your reading glasses to get the clearest image.
Hands free magnifiers
Hands free magnifiers are generally large magnifiers, made from clear plastic and fitted with an adjustable cord to hang it around your neck.
Although they have low magnification at 2x, they offer a wide viewing area ideal for some reading tasks. They can also be useful for hobbies, sewing, DIY and personal care. If you need high magnification for detailed work, this may not be the magnifier for you.
Flat field - dome magnifiers
Dome magnifiers are half-spherical magnifiers (sometimes also called 'bright field' or 'paperweight magnifiers) which sit directly onto the reading material.
They have the advantage of always being in focus and have the ability to "gather" light. This type of magnifier is particularly beneficial to those with myopia (short-sightedness) who often find normal magnifiers of little or no use.
Flat field - bar magnifiers
Bar magnifiers are semi-cylindrical lenses, which lie on top of a page and magnify just one line of print at a time. They are helpful to some people with relatively good vision who wish to read telephone directories or other reference material with columns or lists of information. The main advantage of a bar magnifier is it magnifies only one line of print at a time, making it is easier to track along a line of text without losing your place. The main disadvantage of bar magnifiers is the limited level of magnification (only up to 3x), which means they are not powerful enough for the majority of visually impaired people. Another disadvantage is that they can suffer badly from reflected light and distortion.
Pocket magnifiers
Pocket magnifiers can be very useful at home, or when out shopping or in a restaurant. They are lightweight, easy to use and range in magnification from 2x to 15x. Disadvantages are that they tend to have a narrow field of view and a short working distance, so are ideal for spot reading only.
Illuminated magnifiers - built-in LED lighting
Most illuminated magnifiers use light emitting diodes (LEDs) instead of traditional light bulbs. These tiny lights provide a much brighter level of light, tend not to breakdown and do not use much power, meaning that batteries last longer. Modern LEDs can last for over 100,000 hours before they need replacing.
Some makes of magnifiers offer a choice of 'colour temperature' which relates to the colour of light emitted. Colour temperatures are measured and described in Kelvin or K. The lower the number (2,700K) will emit a 'yellow' light, and the higher the number (6,000K) will emit a bright 'white' light. Your choice can be based on 'colour' preference.
Where to go for help?
Contact our Helpline on 0303 123 9999 for more advice or information or visit our magnifier range on our Online Shop and browse our full range.