The purpose of magnification is to increase the size of the image so that you can see print or objects more easily.

If you are choosing a magnifier for office or industrial use then you probably know what you are looking for so this section won’t really help you.

If you are choosing a magnifier because you can’t see properly then this section is designed to help.

The first advice is to consult your optician who prescribed you glasses. If you don’t wear glasses but have difficulty in reading or seeing small objects then you should still see your optician for his advice on what magnifier to buy.

The whole range of Foresight Optical magnifiers have been chosen to offer the best of these qualities for whatever image you are looking at and whenever. We have something to suit you needs

Magnifiers
The paradox of the lens in a magnifier is that the stronger it is then the smaller it is. The bigger you want the image seen through the lens then the lens will get smaller, so you won’t be able to see much of the image if you want it really big.

It is not really possible to make a high powered magnifier which covers a large area. (Eschenbach Vario Stand Magnifier is the closest you can get.) The stronger a magnifier is, the closer you will need to be to the image and therefore to your eye.

Usually, it is best to use low magnification for scanning larger surfaces and high magnification for small areas.

A single lens magnifier is satisfactory for low powers. Higher power magnifiers require two or more lens too see the object properly with any distortion.


There are three common types of magnifiers: hand-held magnifiers, stand magnifiers, and spectacle magnifiers.

Hand-held Magnifiers
These are the most convenient and the easiest to use need but require a steady hand and have to be held at distance from the viewed object. Normally with a single lens a hand-held magnifier is satisfactory for low magnification. These can magnify images from more than 1x magnification to 12x (which means that the image you see is 12 times large than the object itself.) Normally people want to see images twice as large or more i.e. 2x or 3x or 4x

They are used with your prescribed spectacles if you have them.

Stand Magnifiers
These are not so convenient. They usually sit on top of the object and the user looks through them so that the Working Distance, which is the distance from the magnifier to the object viewed, is fixed. This distance is an important consideration with regard to the type of work that must be done under the magnifier. Simple reading or reading a map will require different magnifications. Consequently their range of magnifications are wide from 2x to 20x.

Some stand magnifiers are illuminated (have a light to shine on the object) which make reading easier for those people who suffer from impaired vision and need a visual aid. An especially illuminated reading line is easier to read and reading speed is increased considerably see: Eschenbach System Vario Illuminated Magnifiers. Use your prescribed reading glasses with these type of magnifiers.

Stand Magnifiers for Working at the Office or Home
These are usually large magnifiers and therefore have a low magnification, which are mounted on moveable fittings. Many in this range are also illuminated which makes then ideal for fine work tasks such as electronics and needlecraft. The Stand Magnifiers with a heavy base are exceptionally handy in the home or office. They have a very large lens so you can a lot through them and also a reasonably high magnification. Every home should have one.

Spectacle Magnifiers
This type of magnifier is a special working tool or a Visual Aid for people who need to see things close up as they have some default in their vision. Some aids have the lenses clipped on to their spectacles and these can be raised allowing the user to look through their glasses normally.


Some look like binoculars fixed onto spectacles. Whilst this type of aid can be used for near vision, they usually require specialist prescription and fitting