according to the present invention the magnifier lens comprises two lens elements . more specifically , from a front , eye side to a rear , object side there is a front , positive lens element , and a rear , meniscus lens element . the front , positive power lens element has at least one aspheric surface and an abbe v - number v 1 . the rear , meniscus lens element has an abbe v - number v 2 . the front and the rear lens elements , in combination , contain at least one diffractive surface . the rear , meniscus lens element has front and rear refractive surfaces , both of which are concave toward the object side . the rear refractive surface is positionable within 5 mm of an associated object to be viewed from the eye side . this rear surface is an aspheric surface of negative refractive power . the abbe v - numbers satisfy the following inequalities 50 . 4 & lt ; v 1 & lt ; 65 , 25 . 4 & lt ; v 2 & lt ; 40 , and v 1 - v 2 & gt ; 25 .