The influence of manual dexterity on reading speed with a hand-held magnifier.

Purpose: To determine whether reading speed with a hand-held magnifier is influenced by age-related manual dexterity decline.

Methods: Two groups of normally sighted individuals who were inexperienced in the use of a magnifier were recruited. The older group comprised 15 subjects 60 to 85 years of age, and the younger group consisted of 12 subjects 18 to 30 years of age.