After Your Low Vision Assessment

Patient Information

Orthoptic Services

Low vision assessment recommendations:

Lighting            q             LED or Daylight, Flexible arm.

Clipboard         q

Contrast           q

Batteries          q             ………………………………………….

Tinted lenses   q             …………………………………………..

Use of magnifiers

Often when people get home with their magnifier, they experience some difficulties. The points below may help you rectify some of your difficulties:

• Please remember that most magnifiers need to be held closer to the eye than you would normally hold something when reading. If you are struggling to use your magnifier, try holding it closer.

• Magnifiers with a large handle and a cup style magnifier must be held flat on the reading material and close to the eye. You may find a clipboard helpful.

• Most magnifiers work best when used with a light. If your magnifier has a built-in light, please ensure your batteries are working and the light is switched on.

• If your magnifier does not have a light on it then we advise that you use a flexible LED light as demonstrated at your appointment.

• Reading is often a little slower than normal when using a magnifier. Take your time to read each word individually. Most people cannot read for prolonged periods of time with a magnifier. We recommend little, usually up to about 10 minutes and often

• Magnifiers can get dirty.  Clean your lens once a week with a damp cloth.

The more you use your magnifier the easier it will be for you to use. It does take practice.

Follow up

In most cases you will be followed up either by phone or by a return appointment to see how you are managing with your magnifier.  If you are really struggling before this, please do not hesitate to contact us on 0300 7072310 for further advice.

What happens once I can use my magnifier?

Once we are happy that you can use your magnifier appropriately, we will not follow you up again. 

However, if at any point in the future you begin to experience difficulties, please call us on 0300 7072310 and you will be given a new appointment.  You do not need a new referral for this.

Please take good care of the magnifier(s) or other equipment loaned to you. If you no longer find them useful, please return them, as we can re-issue them to others.

Your Low Vision Therapist’s name is:

…………………………………………………………………………..

For further information please contact:

Orthoptic Department 

Entrance B 

Second Floor 

Wigan Health Centre

Frog Lane

Wigan

WN6 7LB

Telephone 0300 7072310