Checking the fundus with pupil dilating drops is a thing of the past. The outdated technique is being replaced by the latest computer equipment. Surely those who are forced to wear glasses or lenses have heard the word "autorefractometry" more than once. What it is? Let's try to figure it out.
What is autorefractometry?
Autorefractometry is a computer procedure that examines the cornea of the eye in order to determine diseases such as myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism. The beauty of this procedure lies in the speed of the procedure and the accuracy of the result. The device accurately and in a short time determines what the refraction of the eye is. This allows both adults and children to undergo the procedure. What is this procedure? Let's discuss the issue in more detail.
Refraction of the eye is a complex process that is caused by a living optical system. In other words, the human eye is too complicated. We can see due to the fact that the light beam penetrates the cornea, then it reaches the anterior chamber and the lens, and only then the vitreous body, which refracts the light so that it is focused on the retina. An interesting fact: at the moment when light hits the retina, the image is perceived upside down, and only after it is transformed into impulses, the familiar image appears before us. If not for this property, then a person would perceive the world around him upside down.
Refraction study
If we consider the word "refraction" itself, it will denote the ability of the eye to refract light. In order to indicate refraction, a measurement system such as diopters was introduced. If we are talking about measuring refraction in an ophthalmologist's office, then the clinical effect is implied, while in the natural environment, refraction will be natural, physical. Clinical research allows to take into account accommodation. Thanks to this ability, a person has the ability to focus on an object, regardless of its distance. Tests carried out in the doctor's office allow you to identify accommodation and determine how carefully this function is performed. Thus, we can conclude what autorefractometry is in ophthalmology. This is an objective method for assessing the characteristics of the cornea of the eye and its ability to absorb and reflect light rays.
Research methods
Refraction of the eye is a basic concept for an ophthalmologist. It is thanks to the indicators of the conducted autorefractometry that deviations in the functioning of the visual apparatus can be detected. Therefore, this procedure has gained incredible popularity in clinical medicine. Conducting a surveyimpossible without a special device - a refractometer. This device independently conducts the test and gives the result, for which, in fact, autorefractometry was carried out. The interpretation of the result is carried out by an ophthalmologist. It looks at the refractive index, determines the diameter and functionality of the cornea, and calculates the radius of curvature deviation.
In order for the result to be accurate, it is necessary to exclude all factors that irritate the eye. This is necessary so that the eye is calm, and nothing interferes with it, because excessive muscle contraction can lead to an incorrect result, which will entail unpleasant consequences. To avoid this, the patient is asked to focus on a picture that is very far away. An interesting fact: earlier, a simple dot was used as such a picture, now in new devices an image of a ball or Christmas tree appears, which allows the device to determine the parameters more accurately.
The principle of operation of the apparatus
While the patient is intently looking at the image, the doctor starts the machine, and autorefractometry begins. What it is, the researcher may not even understand. For him, the process will be painless and will not cause discomfort. The infrared beam sent to the eye is refracted several times until it reaches the fundus and retina. After that, it seems to be reflected from there and comes back. The time for which the beam returns is the main parameter. This technique became available only withthe appearance of a refractometer, because a person cannot cope with this task.
The benefits of autorefractometry
Humanity has long appreciated the benefits of autorefractometry. Everyone should know what it is, because it allows you to assess the initial stage of eye deformation and notice deviations. Autorefractometry, the rules of which are clearly spelled out and marked, is easily performed in large diagnostic centers, so try to get an appointment with a doctor who has the device mentioned above.
Also, the big pluses of the procedure are:
- confirmation of farsightedness and myopia;
- obtaining clear parameters;
- possibility to obtain anisometropia data and its degree;
- speed and accuracy of research.
Errors and nuances
The only nuance that needs to be taken into account before performing autorefractometry is the passage of light through the cornea. The fact is that the procedure will be useless if there is clouding of the cornea or other part of the eye. This is not surprising, because the main evaluation criterion is the speed of the return of the light beam, which means that the purity of the experiment depends on the initial state of the organ of vision.
Measuring the return speed of a beam of light allows you to get a clear and reliable result. At the moment, this procedure is recognized as the most accurate of the existing ones. Having de alt with such a concept as autorefractometry, what is itsuch and how it is carried out, you can safely go to an appointment with an ophthalmologist.
