Hand held magnifiers are useful to enlarge a images quickly and easily, They are extremely portable or to enlarge information when your clients are out and about.

The Guide to Buying Low Vision magnifiers might be useful when you give information to your clients regarding magnifiers.   Different magnifiers are useful in different situations, so a technology assessment should be used to determine the device that best suits your client’s needs.

• Glasses and contact lenses are the most common magnifiers for people with vision impairments. It is important to ensure regular eye checks and vision assessments to ensure maximum functional vision.

 

 

• Magnifying glasses are used to magnify images. Available in reading glasses, TV glasses or clip on glasses from Quantum.  Approx price $150.00 AUD.

 

 

• Binoculars and monoculars  can be useful for clients with low vision, particularly for sporting or cultural events.  Available from Vision Australia or Quantum. Approx $500.

 

 

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   Optical magnifiers are useful for magnifying a small image or group of words. They are extremely portable and relatively cheap. Available at Quantum or Vision Australia, Approx $100.

• Illuminated stand  magnifiers allow clients to magnify small amounts of print or an image on a stand, enabling them to use their hands for writing, or doing a tasks such as cooking. The illumination is useful in  low lighting.  Available at Vision Australia  or Quantum. Approx $100 – $300.

 

• Electronic handheld magnifiers  are highly portable devices with brightness, contrast and colour settings to enhance the print for low vision clients. These are very useful for reading books at school, accessing print in the workplace and using to read menus and transport timetables in the community. These devices provide visual output through enlarged text.

 

Electronic handheld magnifiers:  Click each image for a product demonstration.

The Optalec Compact: 

An ‘eye-tea’ review of the Compact
The Compact is as its name says: small and compact. It is useful for enlarging books in the classroom, at home or work and timetable or menus in the community. The HD gives great quality.
Transportable	Easily portable
Available	Quantum  4″ $1470.00, 5″ $1680, 6″ $2340 AUD
Practical	The Compact has a perfect angle when placed on a book, so no adjustment is required to focus. Colour, contrast and brightness can be adjusted.
Engaging	Available in 4″, 5″ and 7″ very portable and useful to use (even for children).

 

Other portable handheld magnifiers include

• Pebble from Vision Australia or Visitech Magnifiers.
• Pico or Looky Zoom from Vision Australia or Optek systems.
• SenseView  from  Pacific Vision or Australian Independence Products
• JB and Emma from Vision Australia or Pacific Vision or Australian Independence Products 
• Humanware  Versa from Vision Australia or Humanware.