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Clockwise, from upper left: Topcon’s Exam 5000 system includes a chart projector, autorefractor and topographer or keratometer; Marco’s Epic automated phoropter can be used to perform a subjective refraction in three to five minutes; Marco’s OPD-Scan III combines
an autorefractor and a corneal analyzer.
Device manufacturers are packaging their digital phoropters with other devices as fully automated examination lanes, which are also compatible with electronic health records, allowing instantaneous downloading of a patient’s visual acuity data with other clinical information like intraocular pressures and fundus exam findings.

The TRS 5100 Dr. Bonilla-Warford uses partners Marco’s latest generation of electronic refraction technology with the OPD Scan III. The AIT DR-13 Digital Refraction System has Bluetooth connectivity that enables an iPad interface to control the auto-refractor, chart projector and automated phoropter.

Topcon calls its system the Exam-5000, while Veatch, another relatively new player in fully automated refraction, calls it the Veatch Digital Refraction System. These systems include a chart projector, autorefractor and topographer or keratometer. Topcon’s KR-1W pre-test system adds in a wavefront aberrometer and a non-invasive dry-eye tester.

The Marco OPD-Scan III, a device that combines an autorefractor and a corneal analyzer, can provide important pre-test data for the subjective refraction. “The OPD Scan III gives me a huge amount of information that I wouldn’t have otherwise,” Dr. Bonilla-Warford said. “Before I even see the patient or as I’m starting to see the patient, that information sort of tells me what to expect from the subjective refraction.”

The AccuExam system in Dr. Sexton’s offices also incorporates the OPD-Scan III. “The amount of information we get from the wavefront aberrometer in the OPD-Scan III now allows us to educate the patient about the health of their eyes and their prescription needs to a much higher level than the auto-refractor and traditional refraction ever could,” he said. “AccuExam allows me to take the refraction to a totally different place for the patient by changing the refraction process from a pain point into a positive learning experience for the patient.”