Low vision devices are available to assist in reading. Consult your physician about which ones would work best for you.

Research has demonstrated that functional vision improves with the use of low-vision devices. Explore what these devices have to offer below, and how they could assist in your vision improvement journey.

Hand-held Magnifiers

Hand-held magnifiers offer adjustable magnification and a broad viewing area, making them lightweight and convenient to keep in your pocket or purse for quick access. Ideal for spot reading smaller text such as price tags, food labels, newspaper articles or recipes as well as for locating and identifying objects, these lightweight magnifiers offer quick reading solutions when used spot reading smaller print.

Optic handheld magnifiers require no external power source and are generally inexpensive and durable, ideal for people suffering from mild vision loss or macular degeneration. Some models feature illuminated magnification while others don’t; most fall within a price range between $10-150; many come equipped with stands to transform them into illuminated stand magnifiers; the Okolux Plus and ERGO-Lux models from SCHWEIZER provide this feature, giving users both illuminated and non-illuminated handheld magnifiers to choose from.

Since 2010, many new visual enhancement technologies have been created and introduced for use by people with low vision. According to current evidence, handheld magnifiers remain more popular among these individuals due to financial, comfort and usability considerations rather than performance results.

Mighty Bright’s handheld magnifiers are an ideal solution for people with macular degeneration as their powerful LED illumination allows users to read in any lighting condition. Their ergonomic switch makes using it effortless while their battery compartment cannot become lost or misplaced – perfect for keeping track of batteries! They feature 5x and 10x magnification levels as well as wide viewing areas to accommodate various levels of vision loss.

Portable Electronic Magnifiers

Many individuals with macular degeneration require portable electronic magnifiers referred to as CCTVs or closed circuit television magnifiers (CCTVs), for use when out and about. CCTVs or closed circuit television magnifiers are an effective solution to help alleviate activity limitations due to low vision, providing magnification for everyday tasks like reading, shopping, banking, writing checks or following recipes – unlike optical magnifiers which require lighting sources in order to function. They are particularly convenient in dimly lit environments as these devices work reliably regardless of available lighting levels!

Electronic magnifiers designed for handheld use provide magnification powers up to 12X on LCD high definition screens ranging in size from approximately 3.5″ to 6.5″. Conceived as lightweight models, handheld portable magnifiers make ideal companions when on the move or simply traveling.

Magnifiers come in all sorts of styles and features. Individuals with macular degeneration should understand all their options before purchasing one, since almost all will benefit from magnification in some way. Magnifiers may either use optical magnification (glass or plastic lens), or electronic (video camera projecting an enlarged image on to a monitor screen such as TV).

Common handheld smart phones and tablets, like I-pads, include built in magnification programs. These vary in terms of lighting conditions, magnification adjustments, image capture/freeze capabilities and color/contrast settings; so before investing in any devices – including head mounted magnifiers – consult with a low vision specialist from Vision Rehabilitation clinic before purchasing or using them.

Full Page Magnifiers

There are desktop electronic magnifiers which use camera lenses to magnify reading material onto a video monitor, such as books, newspapers and magazines. You can adjust its brightness, contrast and color settings easily; some portable magnifiers resemble iPads or other lightweight tablet computers and may include built-in LED screens for hands-free viewing. Screen magnification devices tend to work best for people who possess functional vision with no central blindness while text to speech devices can recognize written material and then read it out loud using computer voices.

Stand magnifiers that sit on tables are another type of reading device. These magnifiers have larger lenses and magnify any page’s text to increase font size – they are great aids for people living with mild macular degeneration or tunnel vision.

Recent research examined the effect of short term reading practice on people prescribed stand magnifiers. Researchers discovered that brief sessions with large print that offers both full and restricted fields of view improved reading ability when using stand magnifiers to read passages of text.

No matter which magnifier you select, it is always advisable to first consult with an eye doctor before purchasing one. He or she can recommend the appropriate device depending on your level of macular degeneration, reading activities and living circumstances; they can also advise you about ways to enhance reading quality by increasing wattage light bulbs or adding more lamps into your home environment.

Magnifying Sheets

Sheet magnifiers enlarge text or images without forcing you to squint or strain your eyes, helping reduce eye fatigue and discomfort during long reading sessions or detailed crafts. Sheet magnifiers are typically constructed of high-quality, lightweight materials for ease of holding and maneuverability – some are even designed as hands-free versions so that they can be placed directly on surfaces such as tables for extra convenience.

Magnifying sheets are commonly utilized by those suffering from central vision impairments (such as macular degeneration or retinitis pigmentosa) and tunnel vision conditions such as glaucoma. Magnifying sheets also frequently serve individuals needing magnification for reading maps, instructions or books as well as those needing magnification for other uses such as repairing gadgets, observing small animals or plants, cataloguing coins stamps pins other tiny collections or performing repairs on devices that need it.

Bar readers are another low vision reading device designed to magnify one line at a time and help individuals with low vision see printed text more clearly while simultaneously minimizing distractions by restricting aperture sizes.

There are also computer-based options for magnification that are both standalone software and built directly into your operating system. These solutions enlarge text, reduce glare and increase contrast in order to make desktop computing or browsing the internet simpler for you.

Before purchasing any low vision aids or non-prescription magnifiers, it is wise to seek advice from a low vision specialist. A specialist can recommend suitable products based on your activities and level of visual impairment. Please be aware that some links below are eBay or Amazon affiliate links and I may receive a small commission should you purchase through them at no cost to yourself.

Electronic Book Readers

An electronic book reader can be an ideal reading device for those suffering from macular degeneration. These devices resemble tablets in that they include touchscreens, graphical user interface (GUI), Wi-Fi connectivity and processor. But unlike regular tablets, an eReader uses electrophoretic display known as E Ink which uses minimal power consumption while producing no light emission to give more of a printed page experience than its screen equivalents.

The Kindle Paperwhite features an easy to read 6-inch diagonal screen with an adjustable backlight that meets all your reading needs, whether that means bright sunlight or night reading with no glare. There is a selection of eight font sizes and six text styles, plus “Read Aloud” mode to help keep you reading even if tired or unable to do it yourself. Furthermore, there’s even an inbuilt dictionary which translates words as you read. In addition, additional dictionaries are also available for download.

An early e-reader was the Sony Reader, which could display PDF, ePub and RSS newsfeeds. Compatible with Adobe digital rights management (DRM), its owners could borrow ebooks from libraries across multiple countries using it as well as DAISY digital book format and text-to-speech capability.

Other manufacturers have created dedicated e-readers compatible with most ePub formats, including Kobo, Kindle and Nook readers as well as Blio reader, which was specifically created for blind users as part of K-NFB project (described below). Blio works with screen reader software on computers running Microsoft Windows OS, Android OS or iOS operating systems.