[Evaluation of the performance of an automatic objective refractometer on 3,618 eyes]

The RM 5000 Auto-refractor was evaluated for one year on 3,618 eyes of 2,037 non selected patients undergoing refraction. The objective automatic refractor showed a high degree of reliability and repeatability in determining the needed refractive correction. The performances were at least equivalent to the results given by keratometry and retinoscopy with an appreciable saving of time (about 4 minutes per patient) turned to account for clinical examination. The results were especially useful among aphakic patients and children under atropine. Automatic refractors are expected to become an essential tool in current ophthalmological.