Though
some eye care clinicians, ophthalmologists, and optometrists continue to use
manual refractors, there are numerous reasons why professionals should consider
switching to more advanced devices for refraction. In the age of information
that we live in today, it's vital to be able to record and share information,
and a computerized refraction system offers increased efficiency and accuracy, and
offers better integration with EMR software.
Refractive
errors are the
most common reason people seek out optometrist or
ophthalmologist assistance. These problems in our vision are optical
imperfections that reduce the eye's ability to focus light - leading to blurred
vision. The leading refractive errors are:
- Farsightedness
- Nearsightedness
- Astigmatism
Although
it's possible to treat, and sometimes correct these issues - experts must find
the cause of the problem to determine the appropriate following steps. This is
where digital refraction systems become necessary.
The Popularity of Automation
The term "automated
refraction system" describes the selection of ophthalmic devices utilized
during eye exams to determine refractive errors and prescription requirements. Automated
refraction delivers accuracy, speed, and repeatability, leading to a widespread
replacement of previously used individual techniques.
Eye care
professionals commit themselves to delivering comprehensive eye examinations
for each patient, meaning that many practitioners benefit from the additional
information, accuracy, and speed a digital refractor system can afford. A comprehensive
eye exam includes a complete consideration of patient history and symptoms, as
well as ophthalmic investigation, and evaluation of the findings. Practitioners
face the challenge of completing these various and complex tasks accurately within
a set time frame, and an automated refractor helps to speed up the process.
What's
more, academic study requires the use of unbiased refractive data, and the
information delivered by some digital refractors can be more repeatable than
retinoscopy.
The Components of Digital Refraction Systems
The
following are some standard components of an automated, or
digital refractor system:
- Motor-driven
and electronic phoropter which places lenses in front of the patient's eyes
- Autolensmeter
that measures the patient's current contact lenses or glasses
- Autorefractor
that measures the objective refractive error of the patient
- Eye
chart to measure visual acuity throughout the test
- Software
or hardware-driven controller changing the lenses in the phoroptor for
subjective testing.
The Evolution And Benefit Of Digital Refractors
When first introduced to
the United States in the 1970s, the digital refractor required operators with
particular sets of skills, and delivered difficult-to-interpret readings. As
the technology surrounding digital refracting improved and evolved, automated
systems became easier to use. As more professionals became capable of
understanding the digital system, a new movement of refractive capabilities
became available.
Using a
digital refractor is easy and quick compared to the time-consuming practices of
baseline refraction and retinoscopy. Although reading results requires
professional interpretation, digital refractors speed-up the data-gathering
process by supplying details to the electronic medical record of the patient,
and some models accept subjective adjustments - eliminating the time wasted in
walking patients to manual phoropters. The technology, as it is today, is
enabling doctors to see more patients over the course of a day, improving the
efficiency of clinics and offices across the U.S. What's more, the automated
delivery system reduces the possibility of human error in transcription,
providing more accurate results.
Are you
already using an automated or digital refractor system in your office? If so,
do you find it an improvement over older, more traditional methods?