Introducing automated refraction ...............................

[Chris Ryser]

Optometric Management

INTRODUCING AUTOMATED REFRACTION

THE “RIGHT” WORDS CANMAKE PATIENTS BOTH VALUE AND GET EXCITED ABOUT ANNUAL EYE EXAMS

By April Jasper, O.D., F.A.A.O., West Palm Beach,

Fla. September 1, 2018


When I look at the patient confusion

regarding optometry, I find much of it is due

to our (the doctor’s) lack of effective

communication about our technology and

“why” it is so important to see us annually.

The good news: Using automated refraction

and the “right”words can make patients

both understand the importance of and

become excited about an annual eye exam.

(See “Automated Refraction Benefits,”

right.)



At mypractice, we start the conversation

about automated refraction on our website.

Specifically, we have information from the

company on our website in both digital

formats for those who prefer a video, as

well as written information.



When Patients enter the office, they hear

from our technicians and from doctors

exactly what makes the technology special

in words that matter to them. Here’sa look

at what the technicians and the doctors say

about automated refraction at the patient

touchpoints:




Automated Refraction Benefits

Here is a list of some of the benefits of automated refraction:

• All the tests available on a
• manual refractor are
• available.

• Increased accuracy: 1/8 D
• Sphere and 1° Axis.
• Increased efficiency (of
• patient flow and refraction
• itself): Refraction time is
• typically less than a minute,
• allowing greater time to
• communicate prescription
• needs with patients.

• Can assess acuity to 20/10
• (or smaller) with LCD charts.
• Can refract in light or dark
• conditions with LCD charts as
• opposed to the projector with
• the light bulb set up
• projecting on a screen.

• Coordinates chart selection
• with test performed
• automatically with LCD
• charts.
• Allows patients to quickly
• compare their old
• prescriptions to their new
• prescriptions, so they can be
• assured of the value of
• buying new glasses
• regardless of the degree of
• change.
• Provides for rapid, error-free
• transfer of data into EHR,
• which saves an average 50
• mouse clicks.

• Provides for digital
• integration of data from
• multiple
• instruments/autorefractors/
• topographers.

• Can be programmed, so each
• refraction is done the same
• way.

• Programs can be customized
• for practitioners to allow for
• their specific preference of
• test type and order or patient
• type, such as children and
• adults.

• Accurate and demonstrable to
• be patient instantaneously.
• Remakes are much less likely
• when a patient is confident in
• the results they have seen.

See all of it:

https://www.optometricmanagemen

t.com/issues/2018/september-

2018/introducing-automated-

refraction