Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 14, 2026
Comparison of Agreement and Accuracy using Binocular Wavefront Optometer with Autorefractor and Phoropter
Published on: September 16, 2025
A comparison of photorefraction and retinoscopy in children
Mesut Erdurmus1, Ramazan Yagci, Remzi Karadag
1Department of Ophthalmology, Fatih University Medical School, Ankara, Turkey. merdurmus@yahoo.com
Purpose:
To compare the results of photorefraction measurement obtained with a Plusoptix CR03 to those of cycloplegic retinoscopy as a standard refraction method in children.
Methods:
We assessed the refractive status of 204 eyes in 204 healthy children. The values acquired via photorefraction (noncycloplegic refraction) with a Plusoptix CR03 device were compared with those obtained via cycloplegic retinoscopy. Both methods were used in the same eyes and in all children. The paired tt-test and Pearson's correlation analysis were used for statistical analysis.
Results:
The mean age was 7.1 +/- 2.4 years (range, 9 months to 14 years). The average spherical refractive error was +0.05 +/- 0.65 D for photorefraction versus +0.75 +/- 0.77 D for cycloplegic retinoscopy (average difference, -0.70 D; p < 0.001), with moderate correlation between measures (r = 0.63). The average cylinder power was +0.43 +/- 0.38 D for photorefraction versus +0.29 +/- 0.38 D for cycloplegic retinoscopy (average difference, +0.14 D; p < 0.001), with moderate correlation between measures (r = 0.70). The average spherical equivalent was +0.26 +/- 0.63 D for photorefraction versus +0.90 +/- 0.76 D for cycloplegic retinoscopy (average difference, -0.64 D; p < 0.001), with moderate correlation between measures (r = 0.63).
Conclusions:
The Plusoptix CR03 device tends toward minus overcorrection in children, resulting in overdiagnosis of myopia. Studies of a population of subjects with a larger range of ametropia will be required to validate this instrument as a screening tool.
