15 Helpful Products If Most Text Is Just Way Too Small For Your Eyes These Days

A change in eyesight is a natural part of aging. Over time, making out the small text on menus or the size 10 font in your paperback can get harder to read. Sure, you could go through life squinting. Or, you could use a handy dandy tool that makes reading small text way easier.
Rounded up here are 16 helpful tools to consider, all available on Amazon, as well as reviews straight from people who bought them and tested them out. Give one (or a few!) a try and you’ll see first-hand that seeing really is believing.
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This tool can be a gamechanger for anyone with eye conditions like cataracts, glaucoma or macular degeneration. Simply place it over the text you’re reading and use the buttons to magnify it to exactly the right size and adjust the lighting. It’s small enough to bring with you anytime you leave the house too.Promising review: “I’ve used many brands of video magnifiers over the years because I am legally blind and require them for me to have a job. The brands I usually use are over $500 and this one seems to work just as well as those. I am very satisfied with my purchase and will certainly get more of these. Also, thank you for the quick delivery as my other magnifiers were in need of repair.” — Brian Grammentz
Ever look down at what you’re reading and the lines of text start to blur together? Especially if you do a lot of reading (whether it’s books or documents), this word tracking tool can come in handy. Simply place it over the line of text you’re focusing on and move it down as you read. Besides older adults, this tool is helpful for students with lots of textbook reading to do.Promising review: “I bought this to help keep my place on patterns while knitting and watching TV. I wish they made one with a clip or something but I would still recommend it to everyone.” — Mishellee
A magnifier that doubles as a stylish accessory? Talk about a win-win! The lens makes what you’re looking at through it five times bigger and it hangs from an elegant gold chain.Promising review: “This is the neatest item I have purchased in a long time. It looks great! I wear this whenever I am away from home. The magnifier works super. I don’t have to drag my reading glasses out just to check on details and other small pertinent product information. Sometimes I just wear the chain. Very classy. People are so impressed and think I am wearing real gold!” — Romie Clark Smith
If not being able to read your keyboard is slowing you down, this one with larger print will be a game-changer. The black text and symbols are easy to see against the yellow background too.Promising review: “I needed to replace keyboard. l have worn out the old keys. Perfect. Easy to switch. Great price. Being in my eighties, I needed a keyboard that has great contrast and ease of using.” — Kiwi9365
This lamp is perfect for setting up in your favorite reading corner. Flick it on and you’ll be able to enjoy your books or newspaper with ease. Promising review: “I bought this magnifying lamp for my father, who has low vision due to macular degeneration, and it’s been a huge help for him. The magnification allows him to see clearly again, whether he’s reading or working on his favorite hobbies. The adjustable LED lighting is gentle on his eyes and the stepless dimming feature lets him find just the right brightness. He loves how the swing arm can be easily adjusted to any angle, allowing him to position the lamp exactly where he needs it. The dust cover is also a great feature — it keeps the lens clean when he’s not using it. Overall, this lamp has made a big difference in his daily life, and I’m so glad I found it.” — Nobeing
Flashes of light on your monitor can be tiring on the eyes. This monitor is made to eliminate all that, keeping the stream of light even and flicker-free. People who bought it and left reviews love how crisp the color quality is and how it eliminates flashing lights without compromising clarity. Promising review: “Moved up from an older Dell 24″ starting to do the pink screen two steps to this Acer 27″. The price was too good to pass up and I’ve had Acer monitors in the past that were good units. So far, it’s a nice monitor for my needs (basic PC and internet no gaming). Super easy setup and the size is perfect for older eyes. Crisp, vibrant colors and super sharp images. Some have complained about controls on the back, but no problem here and it was an auto startup anyway. I give this unit a thumbs up!” — Shade
Another way to prop up your text and put less strain on your shoulders, neck and eyes is with this oversized pillow. The memory foam is soft, yet firm. It’s the comfiest way to bring text closer to your eyes! Promising review: “I am an avid crocheter who also has a bulging disk in my neck. My physical therapist has been telling me to use a pillow to crochet, but I haven’t been able to get it right and the rubbing of the pillow bothers my arm. This pillow is a game-changer. It’s soft and furry. Most importantly it brings my work to eye level. Immediately I noticed a difference with my shoulders and neck. It’s the perfect height and firmness. My husband bought this for me and it is a winner, he is also. For reference, I am short which means shorter arms and the pillow is still perfect. The quality is excellent. Love it so much I want to buy another for back up in case something happens to it.” — Doodlelove
Part of what makes reading tedious is the strain it can put on your neck and shoulders. Having an adjustable book stand like this one eliminates that. This one is not only stylish, it’s strong enough to prop up heavy books and has handy aluminum page holders so you won’t lose your place.Promising review: “I was very skeptical that there were any book stands that could hold the weight of my 1,000+ page hardcover book. I’m very happy to say that not only is this stand very aesthetic but it’s made of high-quality parts and well designed. It folds up to be put in my backpack, so I can carry it with me if needed. The joints are strong and can hold weight at really any angle and still be easily adjustable despite the tension. Highly recommend this product.” — Loryn
Sometimes, you need both hands and a tool to make what you’re doing easier, like counting change or painting your nails. This hands-free magnifying glass will help you see 30 times better and also has a backlight to illuminate what you’re looking at.Promising review: “This magnifier is exceptionally good. Having the light attached makes it very easy to see small writing, symbols, numbers, etc. It is lightweight and can be used with one hand while the other hand manipulates the item being magnified. I can now gather up all of my other magnifying glasses and donate them as this is the only one I will ever need.” — Ann Rose
Reading the paper and documents is a whole lot easier with this hands-free tool, which magnifies the whole page. You can also detach the magnifier from the stand and use it when reading books. There are also three different lighting modes, so you can choose the one that is the perfect fit for you.Promising review: “I bought this for an elderly relative. Reading has become difficult for her with age, despite bifocals. This is lightweight and works well while laying in bed. I like that the magnifier slides out so I can be used without the stand. I personally like the yellow light, but options are always nice. This does use AAA batteries; it is not rechargeable. This works for my relative, but would be a bit annoying if it was for myself. She just received it, so I cannot attest to battery life.” — Amber Helms-Wright
Having a high-quality monitor is key for avoiding eye strain if you’re staring at a computer all day. Especially if you are used to using multiple screens, this extra-wide one is great because you can see everything you need on one monitor. Here’s what’s really cool: It has built-in sensors that detect how bright the room is and adjusts accordingly. There is also an “eye saver” mode that decreases blue light.Promising review: “I never thought selecting a screen would be so difficult until I went searching for UltraWide curved! I had an LG at work and loved it, so I was a bit wary until opening the box. I work from home — lots of documents — PDF references, etc. Also, I like to play FPS games (not the ultimate top-end mega Hz beasts!). This screen is great for all tasks. Easy set up great quality screen — fine text is easy to read. Images true. Colors true (for an average Joe!). Lighting outlet is great — use it for my company laptop. So easy! Just be realistic. Its internal speakers are good for internal speakers! And if you pursue the latest high-performance FPS games and have the to- end rigs, I can’t help you. I have a Legion 5 with GTX 1650 Super card. The results are fantastic! This is a great value. My only additions are a 10ft DP cable (I have a height adjust desk the box DP is 6ft; just a wee bit too short) and I’ll be buying Bluetooth mid-range speakers to place around the work station. I had standalone Bose before they busted — and they spoilt me! Not this screen’s fault — there are natural limits to built-in speakers! Overall, great value screen.” — Moose Jaw
Word searches aren’t exactly fun when you can’t see the text. Get back to the game you love with this large print word search book. There are more than 250 different word searches inside.Promising review: “I love to relax with these word searches in the evenings. The large print means I don’t strain my eyes after a long day at work. I can just sit back with my lap desk and have fun word searching. My family can watch whatever show they like while I relax.” — Fela