Measurement Accuracy When Using Spot Vision Screener With or Without Cycloplegia in Young Adults

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Optometry
• Vision Science

Background:

• Accurate refractive error measurement is crucial for myopia management.
• The Spot Vision Screener (SVS) is a handheld photorefractor used for vision screening.
• Uncertainty exists regarding the accuracy of SVS for cycloplegic refraction, particularly in myopic individuals.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the accuracy of the Spot Vision Screener (SVS) for measuring cycloplegic refraction in healthy subjects.
• To compare SVS measurements with autorefractometers and subjective refraction under cycloplegia.

Main Methods:

• Forty-nine healthy subjects participated in the study.
• Refraction was measured using SVS, a table-mounted autorefractometer (RT7000), and a handheld autorefractometer (Retinomax Screeen).
• Measurements were taken under both noncycloplegic and cycloplegic conditions (1% cyclopentolate), with subjective refraction obtained using a cross-cylinder.

Main Results:

• Under cycloplegia, SVS measurements showed a significantly less myopic spherical equivalent (SE) compared to autorefractometers.
• SVS exhibited both fixed (more hyperopic) and proportional errors when compared to subjective refraction under cycloplegia.
• Autorefractometers provided more myopic SE values than SVS in the cycloplegic condition.

Conclusions:

• Autorefractometers are preferable to photorefractors like SVS for cycloplegic refraction measurements.
• The accuracy of SVS for cycloplegic refraction in myopia requires further consideration.
• Clinical decisions regarding myopia management may benefit from using autorefractometers for cycloplegic refractions.