Talk:Autorefractor

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[edit] Redirect

I would like to see Automated refractor redirect to Autorefractor as it is the more common term. As of today:

• "autorefractor" gets 32,600 Google hits,
• "auto-refractor" gets 20,700 Google hits,
• "autorefraction" gets 17,400 Google hits,
• "automated refraction" gets 1,750 Google hits
• "auto-refraction" gets 974 Google hits, and
• "automated refractor" gets 897 Google hits

Even with the Wikipedia article, "automated refractor" gets only a minority of the relevant hits. -AED 23:35, 25 September 2006 (UTC)

[edit] When in focus?

The picture moves in and out of focus and the machine takes readings to determine when the image is on the retina.

How does the machine know when the image is in focus for my individual eye? Can it look at the retina reflection of the image shown and see when the image is sharp? If it works so, the light has to go back through my eye lens system again, changing the optical properties of the image a second time. How can the machine handle this then? --Abdull 10:45, 4 November 2006 (UTC)

Check out this link for an explanation of how auto-refractors work. -AED 06:40, 6 November 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Comment from an eye doctor

This text was added to the page itself. I am moving it to the talk page since it clearly does not belong in the article, but the content may be useful for improving the article.

Determining the "refractive error" is not the same as "prescribing" eyeglasses via a "prescription": it's sort of like the apples-and-oranges analogy. While automated equipment to help determine refractive error is certainly an aid in the chain of events leading to a written prescrscription, it is only that - an aid. Furthermore, it takes experience to understand the limitations of this automated process. If a sight tester were to use the results of just an automated refraction system to make up eyeglasses there would be (in my experience as an Optometrist) many eyeglasses which would be inappropriate for the vision requirments of the patient; as well, I have found that too amny of these automated prescriptions result in eyesrain, if not constantly, then with certain vision tasks. There is no automated equipment that can replace the experience and integrity of a professional eyecare practionioner.
Paul Wootten, O.D.

Josh Thompson 01:56, 4 March 2007 (UTC)