Expert tips for reading with Low Vision

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. 

A low cost easy solution is to review the type of light you are using while reading.
Associated optical have great blogs on lighting.

1. Ensure you have the right desk lamp when you are reading and you are sitting in a comfortable positon, will help to maximise your enjoyment of reading. This means ensuring you are in a position where you can use extra lighting where you can angle the lamp head so the light is shining directly onto the page. Sitting with a light below your eye level is better as it reduces the light shining in your eyes and reduces the risk of too much glare. Glare can be very uncomfortable so ensure the light you are using is shining direct on your page.
2. Selecting the right lamp is important and you need to think about the design and type of bulb.
   
   
   1. The arm of the lamp should be flexible; this means you should be able to change the positon of the light so it is shining direct on what you are trying to read.
   2. The base should be solid so the lamp is stable and the on and off switch should be easy to find.
   3. The shade of your lamp should not get hot. Associated Optical have a good example of this type of Lamp and it has bright LED’s that mean the shade stays cool to touch. It also has a dimmer which allows you to adapt the brightness of the light depending on how much light you need.
      
      Think about whether you need a floor, desk or portable lamp and this depends on what you are trying to read and the space you have at home, work or while you are out .
3. Try using a Bookstand which helps you to keep the pages of your book flat while reading, this is beneficial especially if you are using a magnifier.
4. Reading books may require the use of an electronic magnifier.  The concept behind a magnifier is that it magnifiers what is on the page. An electronic/video magnifier (also known as a CCTV) is a simple way of reading text, images and maps for people with some useful vision. Printed material and objects are placed under a camera and the magnified image is displayed on a television screen or computer monitor.
    
   They are most often used for reading, but some can also be used for writing, checking a price tag, looking at a timetable or to read a whiteboard in a classroom.

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Many people find they can read more comfortably with a video magnifier than with a traditional glass magnifier and therefore for longer periods. There is no absolute way of knowing whether a video magnifier will help you without trying one for yourself.
 

To understand more about video magnifiers read more on Associated Optical blog all about magnifiers

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Main features of video magnifiers in general allow you to
Vary the level of Magnification so you can increase of decrease the text displayed on the screen anywhere from 1.75x 22x dependent on the model type your purchase.
Different models either have a fixed or variable level of magnification. Associated optical recommend a variable level of magnification to allow you to be as flexible as you need to increase the text displayed.

Inbuilt Video camera
Each magnifier uses a camera and that is either black and white or full colour. A black and white camera is also known as monochrome as it will display black, white and shades of grey.
Most portable video magnifiers use a close up camera which is suitable for magnifying objects placed close to the camera. For distant objects such as train timetables, notice boards or a classroom environment then you will need a video magnifier with a distance camera.
Eschenbach mobilux® DIGITAL Touch HD has a HD camera positioned centrally under the non-reflective, high contrast display, making orientation easy during reading and provides maximum definition.

Display options
Some models have enhanced colour options that can make reading text easier. By reducing the number of colours displayed down to two and removing shades, the contrast between text and background is increased. This makes the letters stand out more so it is easier to see. The most common enhanced colour combinations are black text on white and white text on black (also known as reverse mode). Some models have more colour combinations such as yellow on blue, blue on yellow, yellow text on black and a few even let you choose from a list of both text and background colours. Try experimenting with different colours to find the combination that works best for you.
 
Image capture
This feature allows you to freeze the image on screen, similar to taking a photograph and is found on most models of portable video magnifiers. Simply hold the portable video magnifier at arm’s length, freeze the image then bring the magnifier closer to read, for example, to read price tags in a shop.

For more information on how to make the most of your sight read http://www.associatedoptical.com/blog/fantastical-magnifiers-and-where-to-find-them
 
Using a magnifier takes practice, some people may require support and training and in this instance it is important to see a low vision expert and you can be referred by your doctor.
 
Just remember practice makes perfect when using any type of magnifier. Don't expect to speed through your favourite book the first time you use a magnifier.  For example, you will need to figure out the best distance to hold the magnifier from the printed page to achieve the best focus. Practice, patience, and getting the right support and advice from a low vision specialist will go a long way to improve your #joyofreading.
 
For further advice and support our team are on hand to speak to you or speak to your local GP about being referred for a low vision assessment.