5X Full Page Magnifying Glass for Reading, Lightweight Rectangular Magnifier Provides Large Book Page Viewing Area, Upgraded Handheld Magnifier for Reading Small Prints for Seniors, Low Vision

In all my years of buying products from Amazon, this is the first time I have had to return an item TWICE. The first magnifying glass reader we received was scratched and had black specks embedded in the grooved side. The switch on the second one broke after the first use. Then the light wouldn't cycle or turn off though it seemed to burn out after 20 minutes or so.I notice an uptick in one star reviews and I wonder if something changed in the production. I'm sorry because it seems like a wonderful idea. At least Amazon refunded my money smoothly. But that's not the same as having solved my elderly mother's issues reading the newspaper.

First, this handy vision tool was less than 8 bucks—and these days there's pretty much nothing under 10 dollars that is useful or of any real value. Second, it is a very good magnifier. It provides a very clear (but relatively small) field of magnified vision; and is superior (with 5X magnification-wise and clarity-wise) compared to the other plastic flexible magnifying sheets (3X power) out there.However, the total field of view is smaller; at 5 inches by 7 inches...and you've got to be prepared for only that much operating room.But here's the rub: it's not good for reading books or any other type of extended-period text reading. Why? It is basically a square handheld magnifying glass, with a definite "sweet spot" of undistorted view area in the very center of the screen—BUT unfortunately (just like a handheld magnifying glass) there is curvy-wavy distortion all around the periphery that surrounds the sweet spot...which becomes visually dizzying when you try to actually read a book with this magnifier. This makes it a deal-breaker if you're looking for something that will magnify the whole page you are reading without any wavy distortion. In other words, this is probably not good to read more than 1 or 2 pages of text. Also, there are always one or two distracting ambient "reflected" random images (of any nearby light sources) that reflect in the lens that can annoyingly obscure your field of view.That said, this magnifier is however great for zooming in on specific areas of small print for shorter periods of time. It has the 5X power and clarity and relatively large area of view to do a bang-up job reading a page of fine-print instructions, in depth labeling, or lengthy medicine directions or pill-bottles! This type of use is definitely in its wheelhouse of strength.The lens itself is well made, convex clear hard plastic, and sits immovable (unbending) in the frame. When you lay the frame down flat on another flat surface, the lens is recessed a few millimeters within the frame itself to protect the lens surface somewhat from scratching—however, I can see right away that you better be careful how you handle and store this magnifier because you definitely do not want to permanently mar or scratch your viewing area (and remember it's only made of plastic after all).In the end, for the price, you are getting a big bang for your buck here...assuming you just want a handy dandy, clear-focus, square-shaped, lightweight handheld magnifier for excellent magnified "short-term use"—and not looking for something for any type of extended book reading purposes.

I really love this! I wasn't sure if I would or not, but it is lightweight and magnifies great for my needs. Really helps me with reading. Great product!