Over the past few decades, many innovative devices and techniques have been developed that favor eye health. Refractometry (optometry) is a technique in ophthalmology that aids in the estimation of refractive error. In this article, we will discuss automatic refractometry, an investigation performed through an optical device, an automatic refractometer.
As the name suggests, an automatic refractometry is performed to estimate refractive errors. Other tools for measuring refractive errors like retinoscopes and Snellen’s vision charts are also available. While these investigations can determine refractive errors to a greater extent, autorefractors have been one of the best tools for conducting preliminary examinations.
Refractive errors are one of the most common eye conditions occurring in younger adults and the elderly. They are usually classified into four different types:
An automatic refractometer will allow your doctor to write prescriptions for glasses and contact lenses. Various sophisticated forms of autorefractors are now available that have increased the arena of possible diagnosis with the help of the device. One of them includes an inbuilt keratometer that measures the curvature of the cornea for a better assessment of astigmatism.
Apart from using automatic refractometry as a diagnostic tool, it can be used as a screening tool as well. Before the subjective determination of refractive error, automatic refractometry is usually conducted when a patient visits an eye clinic. It is used as a part of preliminary checkups before and after any eye surgery. It is also used widely for research purposes as a handy and effective tool.
If you experience blurred vision or distorted images, you must visit your eye doctor. Your doctor may examine you with an automatic refractometer. You can recognize autorefractors in your ophthalmologist’s office easily. Those are typically mounted on a table.
Automatic refractors have made the process of eye examination easier and more accurate. While there are other investigations and tools available to measure refractive errors, an automatic refractometer provides some good benefits over others. Some of them are:
Although the new versions of automatic refractometers are designed to address many of the disadvantages seen in older versions, there are still a few concerns that need to be addressed in future devices. The most common disadvantages of automatic refractometers are as follows:
One of the most common conditions a patient visits their ophthalmologist with is refractive errors. Automatic refractometer is a diagnostic as well as screening investigation that allows objective measurements of refractive errors.
While it uses infrared light-emitting diodes to cast a light passing through the patient’s eyes, its effect on the eye is negligible and, thus, is hazard-free. It provides easy, accurate, and reliable reading. Automatic refractometer is a widely used optic tool to write prescriptions for glasses and contact lenses.
