The phoropter is an instrument used by eye care professionals to measure refractive errors and determine eyeglass prescriptions. The first phoropter was introduced in 1917 and had manual and automated versions. The automated phoropter stores testing data, measures additional eye features, and is easier to operate using buttons. It is adjusted for patient alignment and distance before testing refractive errors like sphere, cylinder, and axis values as well as adding power for near vision. The automated phoropter provides a more comfortable experience for patients compared to manual versions.

1. Phoropter
ASIF FARAZ NASIR
M.OPTOM 1ST SEM

2. Introduction
Phoropter/refractor is an instrument that is used for
measuring the refractive errors and to determine his/her
glass prescriptions during eye examination.
Commonly used by eye care professionals

3. HISTORY OF PHOROPTER
The first phoropter was
introduced in 1917 by
Nathan shigon also called
as ski-optometer and by
Henry DeZeng also called
phoro-optometer.

4. Types of phoropter
MANUAL PHOROPTER
AUTOMATED
PHOROPTER

5. Automated phoropter
• This machine is divided into main body and keyboard
• has same principal of operation like manual phoropter
• easier to operate,one button to start the test
• contains memory system i.e. it stores all the testing
process
• simple and convenient
• also used to measure patients phorias and ductions which
are features of BSV
• can measure IPD
• can measure
convergence,stereopsis,myopia,hyperopia,astigmatism

7. parts.....

12. Procedures
• Instrumental and patient adjustment
• turn the phoropter head ON
• phoropter head needs to be aligned with patient before any measurements
• backside of phoropter-head needs to be placed in front of patient and centered in front of
patients eyes
• illuminated bubble present in phoropter should be used to make sure forehead level is alright
• after the phoropter alignment,phoropter head should be adjusted physically by examiner to
line up with patients eye.
• IPD should be adjusted by pressing PD and using multifunction knob
• then the corneal vertex distance should be adjusted so that refractor lenses are at a proper
distance from patients eyes(default vertex distance is 16mm)
• the operating monitor screen can be either placed on left or right sides of patient.
• then data can be inputed on the box placed in keyboard as according to spherical,cylindrical
powers and their axis can be adjusted by rotating knob cw or acw direction
• near add can also be obtained by data input a/c toresponse of patient
• finally data can be saved and printed out easily

13. Advantages Disadvantages
 More comfortable for patients
 Lenses do not become dirty or
scratched
 Axis of any cylindrical correction can
be read off from the refractor
 Additive errors can be reduced
 Examiner depends upon subjective
response
 Refracting unit hides the patient face
 Corrects only lower aberrations
 If head is tilted during refraction,the
cylindrical axis will be prescribed off
axis.
 expensive
 not portable
 restricted field of vision

14. manual vs automated phoropter
data processing of LM and AR
link of the chart and auxillary lens
near vision tests
near chart illumination
data comparison
data transfer to PC