Retinoscopy is a non-invasive eye exam that determines the refractive error of a patient’s eye and the correct prescription for corrective lenses. It is performed by optometrists and is useful for diagnosing myopia, hyperopia, and emmetropia. Patients should have their eyes checked regularly by a licensed optometrist.
Retinoscopy is the medical term that literally means “visual examination of the retina”. The purpose of a retinoscopy is to determine and measure the refractive error of a patient’s schematic eye and to determine the correct prescription for corrective lenses. In a dimly lit environment, an eye doctor performs a retinoscopy using a retinoscope, which is an instrument that uses light refracted from the pupil to help the doctor determine if a patient needs corrective lenses.
By looking at the light, an eye doctor can determine one of three possible conditions. Nearsightedness, or nearsightedness, means that a patient has difficulty seeing at a distance. Farsightedness, or farsightedness, means that a patient sees well at a distance but has difficulty focusing on objects or words up close. Emmetropia is the absence of the above conditions and means that corrective lenses are not needed. A retinoscopy determines both the presence and degree of any condition.
Retinoscopy is a useful examination that does not require the patient to respond to judgments of their vision. During a typical eye exam, retinoscopy is performed. If the doctor determines that myopia or farsightedness is present, they proceed with further examinations and subjective tests, such as having the patient read an eye chart or fix the vision on a distant object without the aid of corrective lenses. The doctor then supplies corrective working lenses to view the same object with negative or positive power lenses. Negative power corrects myopia and positive power corrects farsightedness.
Retinoscopy is commonly performed by optometrists, who are healthcare professionals licensed to perform eye exams used to diagnose and treat conditions that affect vision. Eye exams should be done in children once every 12 months, and adults should be checked by a licensed optometrist at least once every two years, barring any vision problems. Patients experiencing a sudden change in vision, blurred vision, or headache should see an optometrist, who may refer the patient to an ophthalmologist, a doctor who specializes in the care and treatment of the eyes.
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