Visually Impaired Resource Guide - Assistive Technology For Students With Low Vision

Visually Impaired Resource Guide
Assistive Technology For Students With Low Vision
Magnifiers

Magnifiers
Magnifiers may help a student with low vision view tasks at near distance. Magnifiers are convenient, lightweight, portable devices that are relatively inexpensive. They come in many different models and sizes (stand, handheld, bar and mirror) and may contain an additional built-in light source. Magnifiers range in power from .5x to 20x. Increased levels of magnification result in decreased fields of view. There are two types of stand magnifiers: fixed-focus stands designed to be used with the eye at a distance from the lens, and, stands designed to be used with the eye close to the lens. Handheld magnifiers must to be held at the appropriate distance between the magnifiers lens and the viewing material. º In general stand magnifiers are often most helpful for those students who have poor fine motor and/or eye-hand coordination. It is recommended that a specialist in low vision aids assess students for magnification aids and assist with training in their use.

Prerequisites
Ability to control hand and arm movements while using hand held or stand magnifiers.
Typical uses of magnifiers (stand and hand-held) are as follows:

To read a newspaper for a short time or to scan the large print (headlines, titles, subheadlines) in books or newspapers before reading the smaller print with microscopes.
To read labels and prices while shopping.
To see dials, gauges, and other controls on ovens, grills, ranges, and other appliances.
To read recipes.
To look up phone numbers and addresses.
To read mail.
To see measuring tapes, dials, gauges, and so forth in a workshop or other vocational setting.
To read labels on medicine bottles.
To proofread manuscripts or other typed materials.
To thread a needle on a sewing machine.
To check the hygiene of contact lenses.
To read maps and bus or train schedules.
To read a menu in a restaurant.
To verify checks that have been made out by another person.
To verify correct denominations of currency.

Advantages of Hand Magnifiers

Greater working range: eye-to-lens distance always greater than that of a spectacle and can be varied at will
Easy to manipulate for patients who view eccentrically
Useful for short-term tasks (price tags, dials, labels, mail)
A conventional, familiar, aid (no stigma attached to its use)
Can be used with distance glasses, without glasses, or with a bifocal add; the lens can be held against a spectacle lens
First choice as a training aid for patients who have difficulty using magnification
To verify correct denominations of currency.

Disadvantages of Hand Magnifiers

Reduced field of view compared with the spectacle
Occupies both hands: too many things to cope with
Reduces reading speed
Difficult to use if the patient has a tremor
Must be held at correct focal distance to obtain maximum power
Usually not covered by insurance plans º

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