Refractive Errors Correction

[Guest]

Today, I was examined by an optometrist who is contracted by the Veterans Aministration. A technician had me take off my spectacles and look into a vision tester and said it was to "give the doctor a starting point." When I saw the doctor, she dilated my eyes and for several minutes, examined the inside of my eye. Not once did she use a retinoscope, ophthalmoscope, phoropter, did not have me look at a visual acuity chart or give me a near and far test. I wear trifocals and am 67 years old. I feel this optometrist did not know what she was doing or either modern technology has elimated the use of the above intruments. I am familiar with all this equipment because I was an optician for 26 years and spent a lot of time with optometrists.

[Guest]

How was the refraction done? It sounds like they used an auto refractor to get the starting point. This can eliminate the use of a retinoscope. It also sounds like they used something else besides an ophthalmoscope to examine the inside. There are several ways to do this. But how did they come up with your final prescription? I always use a phoropter to arrive at my final Rx. And testing visual acuity is a must - maybe it was done inside the autorefractor.
[quote] Today, I was examined by an optometrist who is contracted by the Veterans Aministration. A technician had me take off my spectacles and look into a vision tester and said it was to "give the doctor a starting point... [/quote]