Unless you have experienced them first hand or have a loved one who has experienced cataracts, the likelihood is that you don't know too much about cataracts and what they are. Let alone the treatment available for them.
A cataract is clouding of the lens. Your vision can become blurred due to this cloudiness that the cataract causes at the back of your eye(s).

Reading is a past time of which many of us love. However, a lot of patients who are partially sighted say that their reading is less enjoyable due to their low vision making it harder and longer to read their books. At Associated Optical, we believe that with the right lighting, magnification and practice these three things can make a real difference.
So we have put together some tips from the experts to help improve your reading experience and make it a more enjoyable one. 

The three B’s is a simple philosophy for maximising the sight you have by enhancing what you are want to read making items appear bolder, bigger and brighter; with the correct training from a low vision professional , selecting the right products and making simple adjustments,  can make a big, bold difference to how independent you are.

Electronic magnifiers are one of many product solutions which allow you use the vision you have more effectively.  With the inbuilt features of a digital magnifier you can enlarge the size of text, enhance the contrast and increase clarity allowing you to see things clearly.

Fundamentally making the text you are reading appear bigger brighter and bolder.

More people than ever have taken up reading since J K Rowling released the Harry Potter books and newly awaited book “Fantastic Beasts and where to find them” is capturing the imagination of young and old and encouraging thousands of people to re-discover their love of reading.

However, reading is something many people take for granted, and when you can’t see as well as you used to, it can become challenging.  With the correct magnification and lighting, reading doesn’t have to be something you used to do but something you can carry on doing. 

There is certainly no magic when it comes to magnification but more science, Associated Optical are the UK partner of Eschenbach who have been manufacturing magnifiers since 1913. In addition to their outstanding optical performance, all products from Eschenbach Optik are impressive in terms of their intelligent combination of visually appealing exterior and creative design.

There are many different types of magnifiers on the market and it is important to understand what you want to achieve with said magnifier to ensure you make the right choice. Understanding this is very important as there are many providers that promise magical solutions that do not deliver due to poor quality and over promising. 

Stand Magnifiers come in a variety of styles and different strengths of magnifications. These type of magnifiers usually have a built in light which means when you place the stand magnifier over the page, the text is enlarged and the light offers more contrast. These types of products are generally battery operated and simple to use with magnification from 2x to 12.5x. Remember, the higher the magnification the smaller the lens, which is something the user needs to consider.

How to Use Stand Magnifiers;

• Hold the stand magnifier firmly against the object to be viewed
• Position your eye(s) above the stand magnifier lens at the appropriate eye-to-lens distance
• Move the stand magnifier across the page

Electronic magnifiers offer something extra to a basic stand magnifier which is why many people have chosen to use the Eschenbach smartLUX Digital which offers 1.7x to 12 x magnification and can be personalised to suit your individual requirements. By placing the smartLUX over your book, the built in camera magnifies the text onto the display. You can choose to change the display to suit you; the magnification can be increased or decreased. With many other inbuilt features as well as being very simple to use; makes this a truly fantastical solution to reading.

Whether you are enjoying your favourite book or just need a magnifier to read a label or instructions, an illuminated pocket magnifier is an alternative option. For spot reading which is reading for short term use, these types of magnifiers are really useful and come in many different magnification strengths. They are very handy and fit in your pocket or bag, making them ideal to take out with you.  

​It doesn’t matter what you enjoy reading there is a different magnifier to help you. Whether it’s the latest JR Rowling book, a magazine article, letters or a food label; you can gain more independence and feel confident with the right magnifier.

Myths about magnifiers
When working with magnification devices, it’s important to understand this general concept:

1. The bigger the lens, the lower the magnification, the bigger the field of view, and the further away you need to hold the magnifier from your eyes.
2. The smaller the lens, the stronger the magnification, the smaller the field of view, and the closer you need to hold the magnifier.

 
Remember a magnifier can’t hurt your eyes but it can be very frustrating using the wrong type of magnifier and if you do not know what strength magnification you need it is easy to come disheartened and give up reading.  Reading has so many benefits and by selecting the right magnifier, you can re-discover the magic and lose yourself with your favourite author.
 
Top tip; get your eyes tested regularly and if you are worried about your sight ask your doctor to be referred for a low vision assessment where an expert will assess your sight and give you support and guidance on how to make the most of your sight.
 
Discover more fantastical magnifiers at www.associatedoptical.com or call 01628 600410 for further support.