A system for illuminating and reading information on a target (12) includes an illuminating device (14) for illuminating the target, separate from the illuminating device a user wearable reader device (11) for capturing an optical image of the target when illuminated by the illuminating device, detector means (30, 35) for detecting the location of the reader device and adjustment means (36, 22) for adjusting the illumination provided by the illumination device in response to a signal provided by the detector means so that a region (33) on the target illuminated by the illuminating means is readable by the reader device. A method of use of the system and an illumination unit for use in the system are also described.