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Top 5 Best Dome Magnifiers for Low Vision

Our Top Picks from the Dome Magnifier Category

Written By: Mike Price, OT   Category: Product Reviews   Updated: 11/15/2018

#1: Reizen Dome 4X Magnifier, Set of 2

Reizen Dome 4X Magnifier, Set of 2

Special Features:

  • Acrylic dome provides distortion-free magnification
  • Redirects all possible light for easier visibility
  • Does not require additional light source
  • Three sizes available to suit visibility needs
  • Soft, draw-string pouch included for safe storage

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#2: REIZEN Glass Dome Magnifier

REIZEN Glass Dome Magnifier

Special Features:

  • Decreases strain on the eyes
  • Made of high-quality glass
  • Collects available light for optimal illumination
  • Smooth bottom glides easily over flat surfaces

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#3: 1.7X Times Bright Dome Magnifier

1.7X Times Bright Dome Magnifier

Special Features:

  • Collects available light for optimal illumination
  • Made of high-quality acrylic
  • Decreases strain on the eyes
  • Angled edges improve grip for easy handling

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#4: Bierley Dome Magnifier

Bierley Dome Magnifier

Special Features:

  • Magnifies 4X for easy reading
  • Collects surrounding light and directs it at text for optimal visibility
  • Non-scratch base glides smoothly over surface
  • Available with wooden storage base and gift box
  • Reduces eye strain and helps assist those with dyslexia and other reading/vision impairments

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#5: Visual Tracking Magnifiers

Visual Tracking Magnifiers

Special Features:

  • Central viewing strip highlights desired text
  • Eliminates confusion from surrounding information
  • Designed for Dyslexia, Macular Degeneration, and Low Vision
  • Durable soft-grip rim for easy use
  • Snap-on cover for protection when not in use

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Product ModelBrandView Best Price
#1: Reizen Dome 4X Magnifier, Set of 2MaxiAidsView Price
#2: REIZEN Glass Dome MagnifierMaxiAidsView Price
#3: 1.7X Times Bright Dome MagnifierMaxiAidsView Price
#4: Bierley Dome MagnifierBierleyView Price
#5: Visual Tracking MagnifiersMaxiAidsView Price

What is a Dome Magnifier?

A dome magnifier is a dome-shaped hemispherical device that provides distortion free, pre-focused magnifying power. The unique shape of the magnifying dome helps to gather the room's ambient light more proficiently than a standard magnifying glass. The hemispherical design allows the smooth flat bottom surface of the dome to easily glide across the page or paper and onto the desired viewing area while providing clear magnification.

The precision-shaped and polished dome is created by pressure-forming an exact hemispherical design from a solid optical acrylic rod. The dome design provides a distortion-free, pre-focused magnifying power of 1.8x to 6x, magnifying the viewing material between 1.8 to 6 times larger.

Dome magnifiers are used by a wide range of people and professions. For example, a dome magnifier is very useful for people with low vision and macular degeneration, as well as those who may struggle due to arthritis or hand weakness to hold a magnifying glass directly above a page for an extended period of time. Dome magnifiers are also very helpful for work situations and hobbies. The flat shape of the dome allows the user to easily slide the magnifier on a flat surface directly over the desired area, and always at the correct height for maximum magnification. This is ideal when reading maps, blueprints, charts, contracts, and small text.

How does a Dome Magnifier work?

A dome magnifier is constructed from an optical-quality acrylic rod or glass that is specifically pressure-formed into an expertly shaped and polished plano-convex lens configured as a hemispherical dome. This type of focusing element is designed for infinite parallel light use, which allows light to arrive through the magnifying surface from the sides and top of the dome, or 180 degrees. Because light intensity decreases as magnification increases, the more light allowed to brighten the specific image, the more the convex lens can bend the parallel light rays to converge on the targeted image, focusing the specific image on the user's retinas and virtually increasing its visual size. With the magnifying dome’s ability to fully use the local ambient light, there will be less need to use LED lighted magnifiers and expensive batteries.

The shape of the dome magnifier also makes it easier to handle. Unlike standard magnifying glasses where a hand is needed to steadily hold the magnifying glass at a particular distance, or bulky magnifying glass holders taking up space and throwing distractive shadows on the surface, a dome will simply rest flat on a level surface. This is important for individuals who may experience hand tremors or have impaired motor skills.

A dome magnifier is pre-focused and designed with a flat, polished, non-scratchable base surface that will easily glide across paper and smooth flat surfaces, allowing the user to place the magnifier directly over the viewing area. This enables an easy and hand-free way to provide a vision strain-free enlargement of the specific text or area.

Who uses Dome Magnifiers?

More and more, people are requiring assistive devices in helping them to see objects and text more clearly. One reason for this increase is the onset of the baby boomers becoming senior citizens, and the normal macular degeneration that accompanies aging. At the age of 40 years, people will start to experience presbyopia, or difficulty with near vision focus. In their 50s, a person might expect the presbyopia to become more advanced, along with an increased risk for cataracts, macular degeneration and glaucoma. Reaching the 60s can also reduce the ability for a person to see clearly in low lighting.

Other reasons for the need to use a dome magnifier are exemplified by people who have hand tremors, arthritis, or hand weaknesses. A dome magnifier does not require users to hand-hold the magnifier device over the area they want to view. A dome magnifier is simply placed on a flat surface over the specific viewing area to provide a clear and enlarged representation of the text or area.

A dome magnifier is also ideal for a business that requires detailed viewing of things such as blueprints, photographs or slides, 'small print' within contracts or legal forms, as well as maps and charts. A hobbyist can also find use for a dome magnifier while working on crafts, sewing, and model building. When reading text in books, magazines, and coupons, it also seems that more information is being printed with smaller fonts. Trying to read the font on a prescription medication container and the directions that come with them has become darn near impossible for many people, and dome magnifiers can help remedy this. In addition, using a dome magnifier provides clarity and assistance to an elderly person or a person with vision problems to correctly and clearly view their bills and mail.

What are the Benefits of Using a Dome Magnifier to Make Daily Life Easier?

The ability to easily magnify text by simply placing a dome magnifier on top of it without straining their eyes is in itself a huge benefit for most people. While eyestrain isn't usually serious and will go away once your eyes are rested, it can be annoying and uncomfortable, possibly leading to other symptoms and conditions such as tired, sore, itching and burning eyes, blurred or double vision, a sore neck, shoulders or back from leaning in closer to the object being seen, a headache from muscle strain, difficulty concentrating, and feeling that you cannot keep your eyes open while in the middle of a project.

The lightweight design and portability of a magnifying dome combined with the ability to use using local ambient light can supply those who travel for work or pleasure with some visual magnifying assistance at the end of their journey. For others, the ability to lay the magnifier down on the surface and position it over a newspaper or book allows them to use their hands for other matters such as drinking coffee, holding a pen or pencil, using a calculator, or just resting.

One of the goals in life is not only to work hard and be diligent, but to also work smart and with less difficulty. Using a dome magnifier will provide an intelligent and easier way to view things that you may be missing during work or play.