[A new ophthalmologic refractometer assisted by a microprocessor].

A new, automated, objective refractometer has been developed in which the examiner looks at the ophthalmoscopic image, while a microprocessor analyzes the data automatically. The results can be displayed as well as printed. The reliability and accuracy of this instrument were evaluated. For spherical or cylindrical powers, 80 to 85% of the refractometer measurements differed from those of subjective refraction by only 0.50 diopter or less. For cylinder axis of eyes with 1.5 diopters or more of astigmatism, the automated and subjective refractions differed by no more than 5 degrees.