Micronics and overrefraction

Phoropter overrefraction, aided by a TI 58 or 59 calculator and programmed module, was evaluated as a routine procedure in 5,350 refractions. This technique provided increased patient acceptance of their glasses, better use of paramedical personnel, decreased refraction time, and improved cost efficiency of refracting. There was a 74% reduction of spectacle remakes and a 37.5 to 50% increase in refractions performed daily. This technique was compared to the previous 2,813 refractions using the conventional technique of refracting and to 2,600 refractions aided by an objective refractor. This study supports the thesis that overrefraction gives a higher degree of correlation of the images seen by the patient during the refraction procedure and the images seen with the final dispensed glasses. This correlation is possible because many of the variables in the refraction technique, refractor lens systems, or trial lenses, are reduced with the overrefraction technique.