The article talks about things to consider while purchasing a magnifying glass for the elderly and enlists some options for the same. If you are in a hurry, the table below gives a quick snapshot or you can scroll down for detailed reviews.
Contents
After around 45-50 years of age, most adults seem to notice a slight change in their vision. This may not be bad enough for using prescription glasses but does make it difficult to read small prints. Some seniors who use prescription glasses still struggle to read small prints and perform small intricate tasks.
In these situations, a magnifying glass comes in super handy wherein it acts as a diffuser between the eye and the object. It creates more clarity and enlarges the object it is placed on.
It thus enables the senior to see smaller prints as well as intricate things more clearly, with or without the need for glasses.
How Does Using a Magnifying Glass Help the Senior?
A good magnifying glass can actually be a great piece of equipment for seniors that can help them read and see many small prints that would not have been possible to read with their reading or prescription glasses.
They can offer effective handheld or hand-free (depending on the kind used) magnification that is much stronger than most eyeglasses used by them.
What Are the Different Kinds of Magnifying Glasses Available in the Market?
There are many kinds of magnifiers available in the market and you can choose one depending on your situation and requirements.
Magnifying Glass: This is a handheld glass that can also have an LED light.
Lighted Magnifiers: They are similar to desktop and floor lamps. these magnifiers are adjustable and in addition to light, they provide a magnifying glass between you and the reading material.
Dome Magnifier: This kind of magnifier sits on the printed material. The senior needs to be at the right angle in order to see the magnified print.
Bar Magnifier: This magnifier also sits on the printed material and would often come with guidelines. It is primarily designed for the engineering profession but is also helpful for line-by-line readers.
Table-top Magnifier: This one is like a desktop lighted magnifier that is not flexible. It consists of a fixed top and the senior needs to get their eyes over this in order to view the magnified material.
Digital Magnifier: This kind of magnifier uses video technology to project an enlarged image onto a small screen that is attached to the device.
Magnifying Goggles: These are placed on the top of the head with the goggles between the senior and the object that needs to be magnified. They are ideal for use by seniors who need to work with their hands while performing tasks with small or intricate objects.
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What Should I Consider When Choosing a Magnifying Glass for the Elderly?
There are multiple things taken into consideration when purchasing a magnifying glass for seniors, the key of them being-
Magnification
Magnification is the most important thing to consider when making a purchase. It is the number of times the lens enlarges the text. This would mean that a 2X magnifying glass would make the text two times larger and a 10X glass will make the text larger by 10 times.
For most seniors, a 2X or 3X magnifying glass serves the purpose as it is adequate for reading newspapers, books, labels, etc.
If the senior pursue hobbies that include looking at tiny text or objects (such as those related to artwork, crafts, jewelry, etc.), they should choose a magnifying glass that offers a higher magnification of 5X, 10X, or more.
Number of Lenses
Most magnifying glasses available in the market have a single lens with one magnification. However, there are some glasses that have multiple lenses, each offering a different magnification.
A multi-lens magnifying glass is quite suitable if the senior needs different magnification powers for different uses- for instance, 2X for reading and 10X for appraising intricate items like jewelry etc.
The secondary lenses are mostly the high-power ones and are the smaller lenses. The small high-power lens is often built into the handle itself. Sometimes it is fixed within the larger main lens too.
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Shape and Size
Round magnifying glasses are very common. They are used mostly when the senior is required to look at small pieces of text like labels on the pill bottles. They also suit well for artwork, jewellery and other crafts.
Another benefit of these glasses is their high portability along with their small size. The seniors can easily carry them in their pocket or small bags whipping them out whenever they need to read something.
In case the senior is an avid reader of newspapers, books, or magazines, a rectangular magnifying glass is most recommended. A large rectangular magnifying glass captures a major portion of the book or magazine ensuring that the senior does not have to keep on moving the glass around.
Rectangular magnifying glasses also come with a stand. They are useful if the senior like to read for hours. They can simply place the magnifying glass over the book and read.
Quality of the Lens
Cheap magnifying glasses tend to use low-quality lenses. Using these magnifying glasses often creates distortion especially around the edges. A good quality lens should always show a clear image and allow the senior to read the text clearly.
Weight
Unless you are purchasing a magnifying glass that comes with a stand, you should always look for a lightweight magnifying glass.
Most of the times, the seniors would be using the magnifying glass for extended durations and a heavier magnifying glass might be tiring for them. It is thus recommended to get a magnifying glass that weighs not more than 200 grams.
Lighting
If you do not have a good reading lamp, it would be better to get a magnifying glass with LED lights. These lights do not use a lot of power and are bright enough for comfortable use.
Having integrated LED lighting makes it simpler to read the text in areas that have little to no lighting.
Some magnifying glasses offer multiple lighting levels thereby allowing you to increase or decrease the light intensity as per the individual requirements.
We have selected some of the best-rated magnifying glasses for the elderly in your family.
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#1. iMagniphy Magnifying Glass
The iMagniphy Magnifying Glass is handheld and comes with 2 lenses. One of these lenses is a 3.5-inch one that provides 5X magnification. The other lens is a 2-inch one that can magnify 10X without any distortion.
The elderly can interchange the lenses easily as per their requirement and convenience. This magnifier is great for reading fine print coupons, pillboxes, prescriptions or viewing tiny details on books, newspapers, magazines and photographs.
The magnifier comes with two super-strong LED lights that are high power as well as energy-efficient. They can give up to 50,000 hours of uninterrupted usage. The LED lights are powered by 3 AAA batteries.
The magnifying glass is sturdy and is made with a shatterproof and scratch-resistant acrylic lens. It also comes with a handy storage pouch and a cleaning cloth that will keep your magnifier glass clean.
The manufacturers agree to provide a 100% refund in case of returns or an immediate and expedited replacement.
Pros
- Affordable, High quality and Easy to Use
- LED lights afford the ability to read when dark
Cons
- No batteries included
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#2. MagniPros Jumbo Size Magnifying Glass
The MagniPros Jumbo Sized Magnifying Glass is rectangular in shape and lightweight in its design. It weighs only 5 ounces and is thus quite ideal for longer reading time.
Rectangular magnifying glasses are superior to round magnifiers and offer the most optimal and natural shape for reading the text without having to move your hands most of the time. It also has a larger field of viewing that lets you read in one go without moving it a lot.
The main lens of this magnifying glass can magnify up to 3X. It is distortion-free and makes it perfect for the elderly to tasks making the process of reading fliers, newspapers, books or magazines a breeze.
As compared to glass lenses, this magnifying glass has a lens that is made out of optical grade acrylic which is not only lighter but also shatter-resistant. With these features, the lens and frame can withstand accidental dropping way better than the other lenses that might be shattered.
The design of this glass is different from others available in the market. There are two design housings on both sides of the lens that prevent it from getting shattered or scratched on the surface.
The manufacturers of this magnifying glass also offer a risk-free replacement guarantee.
Pros
- Lightweight and sturdy
- Large lens prevents repeated repositioning of the magnifying glass while reading
Cons
- The lens is convex in the middle. So you might need to get a cover for this glass.
- Not anti-glare
- A bit more expensive than other options
#3. Magnifying Glass with Light BUSATIA Magnifier
This magnifying glass comes with the BUSATIA optical grade 3X and 45X magnifying lens that ensures a clear image free of distortion.
The crystal-clear and scratch-resistant lens are much clearer and offer better colour correctness than the common acrylic lenses.
The BUSATIA magnifiers are manufactured from good quality ABS plastic. Their smooth surface, lightweight and ergonomic design make them very comfortable for usage. The magnifying glass comes with a cleaning cloth and storage bag.
In addition to this, it has three built-in energy-efficient LED lights that will help the elderly to read in dark places or at night. It is powered by AAA batteries and super easy to operate with just an on-off switch functionality.
The magnifying glass has a 30-day unconditional return and full refund policy along with a 6-month quality warranty.
Pros
- 3X and 45X magnification lens
- Lightweight and sturdy
- Energy-efficient LED lights help the elderly in reading in dark places or at night
Cons
- No batteries are included
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#4. Magnifying Glass with High Power Jumbo Lighted Magnifier Lens
This Ocim lighted magnifying glass comes with double glass lenses that provide the perfect magnification effect. It has 12 pieces of LED lights that illuminate the focus area making it easy to read especially in dark places or at nighttime.
The large double real glass lens with a diameter of 2.15 inches is scratch resistant and offers high power magnification to read newspapers, magazines, books or fine print on coupons.
The LED lights are easy to use and powered by AA batteries.
Pros
- 3X and 45X magnification lens
- Lightweight and sturdy
- LED lights are bright enough to assist the elderly in reading in dark places or at the nighttime
Cons
- No batteries are included
- No storage case included
- A bit heavier than other options
#5. 3X Large Ultra Bright LED Page Magnifier
This LED magnifier is equipped with 12 SMD LED lights that are covered by an anti-glare reflector. This means that the light will be directed to a designated area without glaring your eyes.
The optical grade magnifying glass covers a pretty large viewing area which means the elderly do not have to move around their hands a lot while using this magnifier. The viewing area is measured up to 4.5″ X 7″ and can magnify up to 300%.
The 12 LEDs are energy efficient and can be controlled by a dimmable switch. they can last up to 100,000 hours. The brightness level of the peak of the lights is 720 lumens. This means that they will provide a brighter and more evenly lit viewing area while consuming less power as compared to traditional LEDs. This also means that the batteries will last longer for these LED lights.
The magnifier is lightweight weighing only 6 ounces and its grip is designed ergonomically making it ideal for a comfortable reading time.
Pros
- Lightweight and comfortable grip
- 12 Dimmable and energy-efficient SMD LED lights lasting for more than 100,000 hours without overheating or burning
Cons
- A bit more expensive than other options
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Conclusion
While purchasing a magnifying glass for the elderly, you need to look at the convenience, durability as well as magnification features of the glass.
Whether they would need it just to read their favourite book, newspaper or magazine or whether they would be focusing on more intricate usage like checking stamps, needlework, photos or jewellery- their usage would determine the perfect magnifying glass that will match their needs to the fullest.
