Introduction In the past few years there has been a growing awareness of the possibilities of giving useful reading vision to the partially blind patient.1-9 One of the obstacles to more widespread use of optical aids for subnormal vision is the great number of Such devices needed to provide for each patient the one which best meets his particular needs. A complete assortment of reading aids not only must cover a wide range of powers but must have several different types in each power. For certain near-vision tasks other than reading, a headborne device, which leaves the hands free, may be essential. Some of those who require or prefer a magnifier in the form of spectacles will need a bifocal type; some can use a unifocal (single vision) type. Other patients will find it difficult to hold the reading page at the proper distance from the spectacles and will