Magnifier solutions 2014/15
1. How to order
Payment is required at the time of confirming your order.
Buy direct from our easy to use online shop – rnib.org.uk/shop
Call our Helpline on 0303 123 9999 or 01733 37 53 50. Monday to
Friday: 8.45 a.m. to 5.30 p.m. At busy times and outside of these hours, leave a message and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible.
RNIB, P.O. Box 173, Peterborough, PE2 6WS.
Textphone us on 0845 758 5691 or Fax on 01733 37 50 01.
We accept Visa, Visa Debit, Switch Visa Debit, MasterCard and Electron. Or you can send us a cheque or postal order payable to RNIB.
You can pay by Direct Debit Bank Payment where you can charge your purchase automatically to your bank account so there is no need to keep providing your bank details each time you buy. Call our Helpline for more details on Bank Payments.
Special orders
We work with Partners to deliver products on our behalf. Where a product is listed as “special order” we will pass on your contact information to be able to deliver the product effectively. We may quote extended delivery times for these products, outside of our standard terms and conditions and full details can be found online.
Understanding our pricing
Many of our products have been specially designed which means blind and partially sighted people or anyone buying on their behalf, will not pay VAT on these products. The price listed in this guide is the price payable by blind and partially sighted people. Where it includes VAT this is stated.
Prices are correct at time of publishing and VAT is 20%. Both may be subject to change. For the latest prices call our Helpline or visit our online shop. Many of our prices have been held at 2013 levels.
All the money we make from selling products is reinvested in developing new products and services.
2. Keep up to date
Subscribe to our free publication – New product guide by calling our Helpline.
If you are online, subscribe to our regular enewsletter. You can sign up on any page of our online shop at any time.
Visit youtube.com/user/ rnibprods – our dedicated YouTube channel with clear audio product demonstrations on our most popular products, with some presentations by blind and partially sighted individuals who use the products daily.
Visit sightlinedirectory.org.uk, where you can find all services in your area supporting blind and partially sighted people.
Find out all about the most appropriate types of magnifier available from RNIB for your particular requirements as well as some hints and tips to help with reading. In general RNIB and Action for Blind People sell magnifiers up to a maximum magnification of six times, although we also sell pocket magnifiers up to 10 times for spot reading. Visit rnib.org.uk for more free information on understanding your eye condition.
Contents
1. How to order
2. Keep up to date
3. Low vision assessment
4. Using a magnifier – hints and tips
5. Choosing your magnifier
6. Hands free and glass mounted magnifiers
7. Handheld magnifiers
8. Stand magnifiers
9. Pocket magnifiers
10. Bar and dome magnifiers
11. Portable electronic magnifiers
12. Importance of lighting
13. Buying from RNIB
3. Low vision assessment
If you haven’t done so already, it is really important that you should have your eyes checked professionally by an optician or optometrist. They will check the health of your eyes, and if it’s appropriate refer you onto your local NHS eye clinic for treatment, or access to a low vision service where you should be able to receive a magnifier and training, all free of charge.
Low vision means that you will be finding it hard to see things as clearly as you would like to, even after you have had your eyes tested and are wearing the correct glasses or contact lenses. You do not have to be registered as sight impaired to access a low vision service.
A qualified low vision practitioner will check your vision and assess your suitability for low vision aids such as magnifiers. Recommended magnifiers are then issued free of charge on the NHS. If you are in any doubt talk to your GP about what you should do.
There are lots of different types of magnifiers to choose from and they are suitable for different reading tasks, so think carefully about the type of reading you want to undertake before buying. Your choice of magnifier will depend on your level of vision, what you want to do, where you’re going to use it and what feels comfortable. Magnifiers can be used for reading letters, spot reading labels, but also for crafts and hobbies, as well as
glasses to watch TV. Using magnifiers for long periods of time can be very tiring, so always remember that reading in good light can make a real difference to your experience. RNIB’s online shop and Lighting Solutions guide gives an overview of the types of lights available that can help.
4. Using a magnifier – hints and tips
· If you’re reading for a prolonged period, make sure you are sitting in a comfortable chair and have sufficient light. Make the most of natural light and add a task light positioned quite close to the page, if required. If you are using a magnifier and task light at the same time it is essential that the light falls directly onto the page and not onto the magnifier, as it may cause reflections, distortion or shadows.
· Wear your glasses if appropriate (ask your optician for further guidance). These may be distance or reading glasses. Varifocals and bifocals are not helpful when using your magnifier.
· Use one eye, your better working or preferred eye, with most vision.
· Remember that the bigger a magnifier is – the weaker it is. The smaller the magnifier – the stronger it is. The stronger the magnifier is, the closer you’ll have to put it to your eye to get a good clear image. It is not possible to have a powerful magnifier that also enables you to see lots of words at the same time.
· The strongest part of the lens is located in the centre. If you look through the edges, it may appear distorted and wavy.
· Use a low cost double ended clamp or clipboard to help hold magnifiers or reading materials.
· Good posture is really important. If you can sit correctly when reading, it will be more comfortable and you will be able to read for longer periods. Bending over tables and desks to read may give you pain in your back and neck.
· REMEMBER – Never leave a magnifier in direct sunlight as it can cause burns and damage to equipment and furniture.
5. Choosing your magnifier
The power of a magnifier in described by “times” or “x”, but you may also notice that magnifiers are given a dioptre rating “d or D”. A dioptre is the measurement of the power of a lens, but it can differ across different manufacturers.
Some magnifiers are “illuminated” with built in lights using LED (light emitting diode) technology. These tiny lights give off very little heat, cast a clear, strong light, can last for over 100,000 hours and use much less power than traditional bulbs.
Some magnifiers offer a choice of “colour temperature” which relates to the colour of light emitted. Colour temperatures are measured and described in Kelvin or k. A low number (2,700k) emits a “yellow” light, a high number (6,000k) emits a bright “white” light. Your choice can be based on “colour” preference. However if you have problems with glare and contrast, the strength of the light needs careful consideration as it is very much a personal choice, and the brightest may not necessarily be the best for you.
4,500k may be more suitable for people with macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, and most other retinal problems, for example optic atrophy.
6,000k may be more suitable for people with retinitis pigmentosa, glaucoma, Marfans syndrome and those with severe retinal detachments.power than traditional bulbs.
6. Hands free and glass mounted
These models offer a hands free experience ideal for crafts, food
preparation and hobbies.
Hands free magnifier 1.5 times
Bi-convex lens (15cm by 11.5cm) has a small 4 times magnifier built into the frame and handy neck cord for detailed work. Product code MAG42 price £12.99
Hands free stand magnifier 1.7 times
Side mounted stand to get the right angle for your task measures 14cm by 10cm. Product code MAG62 price £19.95
Help to watch TV up to 10 ft distance
MaxTV clip ons, 2 times fit over your existing prescription glasses. Code MAG91 £57.95
SeeTV Glasses 2.2 times – spectacle binoculars with double lenses. MAG53 £37.95
MaxDetail 2 times
Glasses – adjust each lens separately for a working distance of 40cm. Code MAG72 £49.95
Clip on and flip up option that fit onto your existing glasses. MAG92 £57.95
Our double ended clamp on a flexible chrome arm, fixes to the edge of a table giving a hands free option. Product code DH213 price £14.95 including VAT
Alternatively use one of our A4 size clipboards code DW38 £3.55 including VAT
Handy neck lanyard to attach to your magnifier, code MAG25 £3.19 including VAT
7. Handheld magnifiers•
To use a handheld magnifier correctly place it flat on the page and slowly draw it towards your eye until it focuses. By lifting the magnifier and print together nearer your eye you will be able to see more words in one view, so the image doesn’t appear upside down. Alternatively you can hold the magnifier up to your viewing eye, then look through the centre of the lens and draw the reading material towards you.
‘Ideal’ handheld
Hold the magnifier with the flattest side facing toward the page and curved side facing towards you. Ideal for reading short amounts of text.
Angled handle with rectangular lens 2 times code MAG01 £10.95
Angled handle with round lens in either:
2 times MAG02 £10.95
3 times MAG04 £9.50
4 times MAG05 £9.10
Economy handheld
Great value magnifier with an additional 5 times lens in the transparent handle for spot reading. Offers a larger visual field and a medium level of magnification.
Rectangular lens 1.5 times MAG73 £12.95
Round lens 3.25 times MAG75 £6.20
LED Handheld magnifiers
Coil ATMAX One touch range
Brilliant design means as soon as you hold the soft touch handle, the bright LED light turns on automatically. The great energy saving feature means the light also turns off – so no fiddly switches. Supplied with two AA batteries. £45 each.
3 times rectangular lens code MAG63 or 5 times circular lens MAG64
Mobilux range
Lightweight lens and innovative Cera-tec® coating on the handle to increase comfort. Optional attachable filters to cover the LED are included in yellow, orange and clear.
Rectangular lens 3.5 times code MAG66 £46.50
Round lens in either:
4 times MAG67 £44.00, 5 times (20d) MAG68 £46.25, 6 times MAG77 £47.95
Okolux Mobil Plus range
Fitted with a lightweight lens and an antimicrobial handle to protect against germs throughout the normal lifespan of the product. 10 year guarantee. Fitted with three AAA batteries. A separate base is available to use the Okulux magnifier hands free. (MAG65 £24.08)
Rectangular lens 3.5 times £51.65 colour temperature 4,500 Kelvins product code MAG10 or 6,000 Kelvins code MAG11.
Round lens 4 times £47.26 colour temperature 4,500K code MAG14, colour temperature 6,000K code MAG15.
5 times £46.05 colour temperature 4,500 Kelvins code MAG16 or colour temperature 6,000 Kelvins code MAG17.
6 times £44.45 colour temperature 4,500 Kelvins code MAG18 or colour temperature 6,000 Kelvins code MAG19
8. Stand magnifiers
Magnifiers with built in LEDS and stand, giving a fixed focus which means you can read hands free and then move easily across the page. You may need to wear your reading glasses to get the clearest image. If you already use a stand magnifier but you find you lift it off the page to see better, you may need to see your optician about your reading glasses or get a stronger magnification.
Okolux Plus illuminated
Choose from 4,500 Kelvin or 6,000K light temperatures and rectangular or circular lens. Antimicrobial handle to protect against germs. Ten year guarantee for defective parts and labour. Supplied with three AA batteries.
Rectangular Lens 3 times £74.40 4,500K code MAG26 or 6,000K code MAG27.
Circular Lens choose from 4 times £55.00 4,500K code MAG28 or 6,000K code MAG29.
5 times £52.70 colour temperature 4,500K code MAG30 colour temperature 6,000K code MAG31
6 times £51.90 temperature 4,500K code MAG32 or 6,000K code MAG33
Powerlux illuminated stand magnifier
Innovative design to allow a relaxed hand position for both left and right handed use, making it ideal for writing. Two LEDs positioned opposite each other for pin point illumination and battery saving feature will turn off after 30 minutes of not being used.
3.5 times code MAG69 £72.95 or 5 times MAG57 £68.50
Scribolux 2.8 times illuminated
With an anti-scratch coating on the lens, this lightweight solution is ideal for puzzles or form filling as the design allows space for writing below the lens. Two year guarantee and supplied with three AA batteries. MAG55 £69.50
Twin Lux 4.5 times
With two lightweight rectangular lenses, this magnifier captures all available light onto the page. Not really suitable for a pocket or a bag as the largest of our stand magnifiers. Supplied with three AA batteries and both priced £115. Either temperature 4,500K code MAG40 or 6,000K code MAG41.
Non-illuminated hand / stand magnifier