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A refkeratometer is a special device that is used in modern medicine. It is mainly intended for the work of ophthalmologists and optometrists. When using this equipment, refraction and its violations can be established in the shortest possible time. In simple words, a refkeratometer is designed to test vision. This is the fastest and most reliable method that is available for examining both very young children and adults. The procedure does not bring discomfort, there are different types of devices that guarantee efficiency during their use. This method of vision testing aims to establish the correct vision treatment if any abnormalities are detected. A timely appeal to an ophthalmologist guarantees a solution to the problem in a short time.
Why is a refkeratometer used?
This device is present in the arsenal of any ophthalmologist, as it is directly related to the examination of vision. A refkeratometer is a small, portable device that helps determine the level of refraction in the eye. The refraction of the eye is an indicator of the fracture of the rays that are perceived by our vision. The refractive system of the human eye has a complex and rather complex structure. It combines the action of the lens, cornea, chamber moisture, and the vitreous body.
The process is something like this: approaching the retina, a light beam seeps through four refractive points (the back and front parts of the cornea and lens, respectively). Normally, refraction shows approximately 59 diopters. This is the same refractive power that the optical apparatus of the eye has. For refraction data, it is extremely important to correctly measure the length of the axis of the eye, which shows the distance from the cornea to the macula (on average, this figure is about 92 millimeters). The refkeratometer helps the ophthalmologist to measure and analyze the indicators, since both the refractive power and the distance of the axis affect the refraction. These results are able to determine the optical state of the eye and the placement of the main focus in relation to the retina.
What are refkeratometers?
These devices come in several varieties, as over time their methods and technologies are somewhat improved. Despite this, the result of the check depends on the accuracy of the following indicators, which determine their form:
- measurement range;
- pupil diameter;
- measurement time;
- vertex range.
How accurately and with what power the device measures the above characteristics determines the type of the device itself. Accordingly, the newer the device, the more accurate will be the indicators by which the ophthalmologist is guided. The simplest device used by an ophthalmologist is a portable (manual, portable) autorefkeratometer. It is used for small children, bedridden patients and those who cannot move independently, also in the case of a doctor’s home visit. It is worth noting the minus of such a device – this is the likelihood of inaccurate indicators, since the patient’s head is not fixed, its mobility is allowed, which violates the measurements.
The second type of refkeratometer is a stationary device that is located in the clinic. It is not portable, so the ophthalmologist cannot take it with him on a call. This device has its advantages over others. The first plus is power. This device is designed for more accurate measurements, which help to prescribe the correct treatment. The second plus is the ability to fix the patient’s head and check additional necessary parameters, which cannot be done using a portable device. The downside, of course, is that the doctor cannot check the patient at home.
What does a refkeratometer show?
The refkeratometer shows the refraction of the cornea, its diameter and radius. These data are necessary to determine the visual acuity of the patient. Thus, the doctor can see if a person suffers from farsightedness or myopia, how well and clearly the patient sees. The device works automatically, to a greater extent the test result depends on the type and novelty of the device and the person himself. The procedure is not difficult, it only takes a few minutes. The patient should place their chin on a special support in front of the refkeratometer monitor and not move for a couple of minutes. First, the device measures the performance of one eye, and then the other. The results will be shown on the monitor. It is worth considering that dry eyes can affect the data obtained – they will be less accurate.
Device efficiency
Autorefkeratometer is one of the most common ways to check the quality of vision – it gives the most accurate readings. The newer the device, the more correct the result will be. In addition, it is worth remembering that the portable view is not as efficient as the stationary one, so the data may differ.
It must be emphasized that often the indicators of the two eyes do not match. Sometimes it happens that farsightedness can be diagnosed in one eye, and myopia in the other. This condition is controlled and treated with the right lenses.
The test result will show how sharp the patient’s vision is and whether additional treatment is necessary. In medicine, two types of deviations are most common – this is farsightedness and myopia. In this case, the ophthalmologist will begin the selection of lenses for the patient. There are two options for improving vision – these are lenses or glasses with optical glasses. Correction can also occur through surgery. The latter option is extremely rare. Ophthalmologists themselves recommend initially trying to adjust vision with lenses or glasses, without resorting to another type of treatment.