autorefractor
This is a machine used in the eye doctor’s office to help determine your glasses prescription. While not as accurate as actual refraction (the process by which you read the eye chart through the phoropter machine), the autorefractor provides a useful starting point that can be further refined in the exam room.
The autorefractor is an extremely useful device.
Many of my new patients will come to their first eye exam WITHOUT bringing their current spectacles. This makes the initial refraction a challenging as we don’t know where to start. This is particularly an issue with patients having large amounts of astigmatism.
The autorefractor will give us a starting glasses prescription. It isn’t always acurate (but better than nothing). We can then refine this prescription during their exam to maximize their vision.