Sight Testing

Eye Sight Test vs. Eye Health Exam

An automated refraction (sight test) is a quick, safe, and accurate way for individuals who wear glasses to check their vision before purchasing a new pair of glasses. An automated refraction, however, is not an eye health exam. While the automated technology is very accurate at measuring an individual's visual clarity and determining the power of corrective lenses, it is not intended to identify underlying eye health problems that may affect vision that are more likely to be found during an eye health exam. Therefore, individuals with underlying health problems or eye-health risk factors need to have an eye health exam, which includes having their eyes dilated to examine the retina, having visual field tests, and eye pressure tests. An Ophthalmologist or Optometrist, not an Optician, conducts an eye health exam.

Why do people want automated refractions?

The vast majority of Opticians' clients are individuals who are long-time wearers of eyeglasses and contact lenses. They most often seek Opticians' services because they want to update their eyewear or to replace lost or damaged glasses.

In the past, Opticians were not allowed to check their clients' visual acuity and dispense new corrective lenses, even with a slight modification; they could only repeat the previous prescription. This meant the client who wanted to be assured of their visual acuity before paying for new glasses was required to return to the Ophthalmologist or Optometrist for a test that determines visual acuity, but in many cases, tests for visual acuity are part of eye health examinations. This has been an often unnecessary, cumbersome and expensive process for eyeglass wearers, who in British Columbia must pay about $90 for an eye test whether they need the full test or not. This meant that some individuals would not bother to update their eyewear or not have their vision checked at all.

Question: What is an automated refraction?

An automated refraction is a computerized assessment of how the eyes bend and focus light to create an image on the retina. The process has been scientifically proven a safe, reliable, and reproducible test. It uses equipment and a sophisticated computer program to test and measure visual acuity. It also calculates whether clients would see more clearly with the help of corrective lenses and determines the strength of lenses needed.

This kind of equipment and sophisticated computer program is not new and is commonly used to test and measure visual acuity before laser surgery vision correction, and in Ophthalmologist or Optometrist offices. In Optometrist offices, this equipment may be run by office staff before the client meets with the Optometrist.

In Optician offices, only the Optician runs this equipment. A number of automated refracting Opticians have been trained to use the equipment and have been offering it in their stores so clients can ensure the power of their lenses are exactly what they need before agreeing on a new pair of glasses.

Question: Who is not eligible for an automated refraction?

Under the existing College guidelines, potential clients with the following conditions are screened out and ineligible for automated refractions:

• Are over the age of 65, since the leading causes of visual impairment are age-related.
• Have specific illnesses and health condition such as diabetes, macular degeneration, cataracts and cardiovascular disease, unless already under a doctor's supervision for their condition.
• Have high risk health conditions for retinal detachment such as hypertension, recent trauma to the head, recent pain in the eye, or people with lens prescriptions of greater than + 8.00 diopters or - 10.00 diopters.
• Have specific visual symptoms such as recent onset of floaters, haloes, distortion, double vision, flashing lights etc.
• Have a history of any eye surgery.

This information is taken from the College Optician of British Columbia website. For more information, please click here.