Hello, I’m Annegrit, and I’m a passionate knitter. My residual vision is 4% due to severe nearsightedness, astigmatism, and nystagmus. This means I have to get very close to my work or knit by touch.

I tested the Aspheric Lens craft magnifying glass from Carson’s Lume series.

The magnifying glass is securely packaged and is a convenient size. Even upon unboxing, the device gave the impression of being made from high-quality materials. The packaging describes its intended use along with the available magnification levels (2x and 7x in a small section). The required batteries (not included) for the light were also listed. These fit easily into the designated compartment. The controls are intuitive.

The magnifying glass hangs around the neck and can be easily adjusted using a slider on the strap. It is then supported against the upper body by the legs, which are comfortably padded, allowing it to be positioned optimally. This makes it easy to work with both hands. An easy-to-feel and operate slide switch allows you to select between two light intensities. I’ve been using the magnifying glass with light for about 12 hours now and haven’t noticed any loss of brightness yet. So the batteries seem to last a while. Rechargeable batteries could certainly be used here instead of 2 AAA batteries.

I find the adjustable strap comfortable, and it doesn’t feel tight even after three hours of continuous use. The magnifying glass sits lightly but securely on the upper body and doesn’t slip easily, even when moving. Of course, it feels a bit strange at first, but I quickly got used to the sensation. It took me a while to find the optimal position for me.

Now I can knit and crochet in comfort without constantly poking myself in the nose or face with the needle. I can also sit back while I work on my crafts, so I no longer get neck tension.

I find the light feature particularly useful in low light or when working with dark yarn, and I use the highest of the two settings. The work area is illuminated precisely and sufficiently without blinding me. Other people in the room aren’t disturbed either. Since the light is directed straight at the workpiece, my hands don’t cast any shadows.

I also brought the magnifying glass to the knitting meetup, which was easy to do thanks to its compact size and light weight.

I’m really excited about it and use the magnifying glass all the time for my needlework, because it’s the only way I can enjoy it again. Now, after a bit of a learning curve, I can knit again without cramping up or straining myself.

I would recommend them to anyone with vision impairments. Of course, you’ll have to experiment a bit to find the right position for you. But patience definitely pays off here.

I mainly use the larger magnifying surface for my work. The smaller one is significantly more powerful, but personally, I find the viewing area too small. However, I think enlarging the viewing area would make the entire magnifier much heavier, since the glass would have to be significantly thicker—and therefore heavier—to cover the larger surface.

I also tried using the magnifying glass to read instructions and knitting/crochet patterns. This works much better, too. Now I can glance at the pattern more quickly without having to hold it right up to my eyes. At the same time, I can keep the work in my hand, which maintains the tension in the yarn—something that had always been a problem before.

Bottom line: For me personally, it’s a very useful tool that helps me keep enjoying my crafts.