Hand-held magnifier
Low Vision Aids are pieces of equipment that help you make the best use of your vision.
These include:
- Optical Low Vision Aids
- Products which use colour or contrast for ease of use
- Large print products
Magnifiers
Increase the image size of an object to make them easier to use. The different types of magnifiers available are:
Hand-held magnifiers – the lens is held away from the object and the design incorporates a handle.
Stand magnifiers – designed to rest flat on the page. these are helpful if your hands are a little shaky.
Illuminated stand magnifiers – some have inbuilt illumination where the light will shine onto the object you are looking at.
Pocket magnifiers – small enough to take out and about and are useful for shopping.
Brightfield / Flat-form magnifiers – bar or dome magnifiers which are placed flat on the page and you can slide across.
Round the neck magnifiers – low powered magnifiers which are useful for hobbies such as knitting or model making.
Typoscope – Envelope Guide
Telescopic Devices
For looking at the distance, can be used for short periods. Monoculars for one eye and binoculars for both eyes.
Spectacle-mounted Aids
Low powered distance telescopes mounted onto spectacles.
Typoscopes
Simple and useful tools made of black card or plastic with holes cut in them to act as guides.