[Clinical use of the Canon R10 autorefractometer for determining refraction in children with strabismus].

Using a Canon R 10 Autofractor, refraction was measured in 131 children with squint. Measurements before and after cycloplegia were compared to a reference measurement (taken with the Rodenstock PR 50 hand-held refractometer after cycloplegia). In 80% of the cases the power and axis of the cylinder equalled the reference measurements. Due to accommodation, 40% of the values for spherical equivalents before cycloplegia were false. After cycloplegia 80% of the spherical equivalents were also in agreement with the reference measurement. The short examination time and the interesting fixation target facilitate multiple measurements in children. As a result, refraction can be measured more reliably with the R 10 Autorefractor than with the hand-held refractometer in children from age 2 1/2 or 3. Retinoscopy is only indispensable in cases where it is difficult or impossible to use an autorefractor, i.e., on children aged under 2 1/2 and those with extreme head tilt.