What is the primary purpose of an autorefractor?

The primary purpose of an autorefractor is to quickly assess a patient's refractive error. This instrument automates the process of determining how light is focused in the eye, helping to identify whether a person is nearsighted, farsighted, or has astigmatism. By using infrared light, the autorefractor captures how light rays are refracted as they pass through the eye, allowing for an accurate calculation of the lens prescription needed for optimal vision correction.

This efficiency makes the autorefractor a valuable tool in a busy practice, as it provides results rapidly, enabling the optometrist to make informed decisions regarding a patient’s eyewear needs or further testing. Other options, while relevant to eye care, serve different purposes. For instance, diagnosing glaucoma involves assessing the health of the optic nerve and typically requires other specific tests, while measuring intraocular pressure is done using tonometry. Evaluating visual field is a separate examination aimed at determining peripheral vision status. Thus, the autorefractor specifically addresses the need for a quick and objective measurement of refractive error.