Reading labels on cans, instructions for electronic gadgets or classified ads can be difficult tasks for people with vision loss. While most vision changes due to aging can be corrected by glasses, medicine or surgery, changes caused by eye disease, poor health or injury can cause permanent vision loss. Sometimes an additional aid is helpful to bring objects into focus. There is nothing wrong with using these aids. Many people use magnifiers to read small print or work on small crafts or hobbies, like stamps. Jewelers use a powerful magnifier called a loupe, biologists use microscopes, bird watchers use binoculars. Magnifiers serve many purposes.

Magnifiers work by bending light rays to produce an image of the object that is larger. The stronger the lens, or the higher the power, the more it is curved. The greater the curve of the lens, the smaller it will be, which means that higher powered magnifiers do not cover as big a surface as magnifiers with lower magnification. The strength of a magnifier is sometimes referred to as its 'power' and is usually expressed as a number with an "x". For example, a 2x magnifier doubles the size of an image.

If you are struggling with daily visual tasks daily, and are considering magnifiers, the staff at Dynamic-Living.com offers the following suggestions:

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You have choices for magnification that can make a difference

• Magnifiers with large lenses are fine for a wide all-round view of a subject and where low magnification is sufficient. For example, the 2X Full Page Magnifier covers much more area than other hand held magnifiers. Made from an optical grade acrylic, it is rigid like glass and will not bend or distort the image.

• Magnifiers with smaller lenses are used when high power is required. For example, the 7X Pocket Magnifier can help with maps or tiny print on a label.

• Different magnifiers are suitable for different tasks. It is best to have several magnifiers to work with, so you can select the right one for the task at hand.

Appropriate techniques for using magnifiers can mean changing how you look at things.

• When you first learned to read, you developed an eye movement that was comfortable for you. Reading with a magnifier requires a different way of looking at the page. Working with each magnifier might require its own technique for the best results.

• Try different styles of physical movement to find the right combination of magnifier and movement. For example, it may improve your reading if you move the paper, not the magnifier, as you read. Hands Free Magnifiers worn around the neck allow you to work on small projects, crossword puzzles and other close work without continuously moving the magnifier. Some magnifiers are meant to be used directly on the paper. For this type you would slide the magnifier across the page without lifting it up as you read. For best results with magnifiers like the Illuminated 5x Stand Magnifier or the 4X Dome Magnifier, bend over and put your eyes right above of the magnifier. To prevent back strain, use a lap desk or reading stand.

Improve your chances for success with appropriate lighting and posture.

• Make sure the magnifier and your reading material are held at the same angle to prevent distortion. If your magnifier is straight up and down, your paper needs to be straight up and down. If your paper is at a 45-degree angle, your magnifier must also be at a 45- degree angle. The 2X Magnilamp has an adjustable arm which can be angled up to 45 degrees, allowing you to adjust it for the best viewing to suit your needs.

• To increase your field of view and increase the number of words you can see at one time, hold the magnifier as close to your eye as possible and bring the subject closer to the lens until it is in focus.

• The better the lighting, the better the results of any magnifier. With good lighting, you will need less magnification, enabling a broader field of vision, or the ability to see more of the object at one time. Work in natural light where possible. You should not work in your own shadow or have to view anything against the light. Consider using magnifiers with light on them, or adjustable lamps and special daylight bulbs to help control the quality and amount of light falling onto a task. Adjust the light so you don't experience glare or the light's reflection in the magnifier.

Take care of yourself and your lenses for the best results.

• Be aware of neck tightness, raised shoulders, holding breath, and other signs of tension that can cause fatigue. Keep your practice sessions short in the beginning until you adjust to the new style of reading.

• Keep magnifier lenses clean and avoid scratches. Try not to touch the lens surface with fingers as the oils will create smears which cause blurring.

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Magnifiers can provide the additional boost to help you reading ingredients on a food label or items on a menu. When large print is not available, magnifiers are the perfect reading aid. Take the time to select the right magnifier for the task at hand, and give yourself time to adjust to a new reading style. You may find that reading and close work is available to you again.

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© Copyright 2005 Dynamic Living, Inc.
Dynamic Living Newsletter may only be redistributed in its unedited form. Written permission from the editor must be obtained to reprint or cite the information contained within this newsletter.

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