Video Transcript:
Hi, I'm Charlie Saccarelli and today we're going to talk about digital versus optical magnifiers for low vision. You have two options when it comes to magnification. One is a traditional lens like a handheld magnifier and the other is a digital magnifier. That's a camera system that magnifies the image that it takes in.
When we're talking about what is the best magnifier for you, the question is what are you doing with the magnifier? If you're trying to read a book, digital magnification offers some benefits. The benefits of a digital magnifier are that it magnifies a wide field of view. It magnifies a wide field of view, and it does a very good job on flat surfaces. The challenge with the digital magnifier is that they are potentially bulky and jumpy. So, because there is a lag between the capture of the image and then you seeing it, say your hand is shaking a little bit, it's going to be a bit of a challenge to kind of keep all of that together.
One thing that some of the digital magnifiers have available is a camera mode where you can take a picture and then look at the picture that's fixed. So while we're talking about digital magnifier features, chances are you already have a very powerful digital magnifier right in your pocket. That is an iPhone or an Android phone or really any smartphone is capable of almost all of the features that a, you know, expensive, official low vision digital magnifier has.
If you have an iPad, if you have an iPhone, the features are available and they're available via apps. We'll talk about the best apps another time. But just think about that: what can we do with the tools that we already have before we go buying new stuff? So, a digital magnifier is your technology. It's got a wide field of view and it's positive for if you are trying to read the paper.
Where optical magnification is going to be helpful is when you are trying to read something in space. If you've ever tried to focus your cell phone or your digital magnifier on a curved surface, what happens is it struggles because it's not really sure what it's trying to focus on. An optical magnifier gives you more flexibility in that you can hold the optical magnifier at the focal length, kind of twist the other piece to match your needs and really make it work.
There are use cases for a digital and there are use cases for an optical. What I would try to do, if I were you, is see what you can get your phone to do with the apps available. Then consider an optical magnifier as a supplement to that. If your phone dies and you're out, it's probably good to have an optical magnifier, because an optical magnifier doesn't die. So that is the difference between optical and digital magnifiers. Hopefully, it can help guide you in selecting the right one for you.
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Disclaimer: The information provided in this video is for educational purposes only and is based on our experience in optical solutions. We are not medical doctors. Consult with your ophthalmologist, neurologist, or other qualified healthcare professional before making any changes to your treatment plan. The solutions discussed are intended to support, not replace, professional medical advice.