Pre-testing is a crucial part of maintaining healthy vision, and it’s a key part of the eye examination process. This is because the likes of pre-test optical instruments can provide the right screening and measuring information to deliver a personalised and efficient examination process for patients.
Pre-test instruments can help Optometrists to gain a full picture of a patient’s vision abilities, including testing different visual fields and screening for potential health risks. So, what exactly are pre-test instruments and what benefits could they bring to a practice or clinic?
As an optical practice, your priority is to provide an accurate picture of your patients’ vision. Pre-test instruments can deliver a number of benefits to help the process become more efficient.
By investing in the right pre-test instruments, you can speed up the refraction and testing processes. This can ensure your clinic time is used wisely and allows you to provide your patients with more information, without it taking double the time.
What’s more, by using modern pre-test instruments, you are able to deliver reliable and accurate measurements. This can increase your reputation and allow you to provide a positive and professional experience for patients.
The advanced features on many pre-test optical instruments make it easier than ever before to carry out a full eye examination, without needing to book longer appointments. Automatic operation and easy-to-use features on many instruments have streamlined the process.
With that in mind, here is a guide to the pre-test instruments you should be taking advantage of.
Automatic instruments are becoming increasingly popular for their efficiency. The Wave Analyzer is a fully automatic aberrometer, which can provide 7 accurate measurements in under 2 minutes.
The measurements include a full assessment of the anterior chamber, carrying out functions such as topography, pupillometry, opacity check for the crystalline lens, cataract screening and glaucoma screening abilities.
The Wave Analyzer can also demonstrate the difference between a patient’s day and night vision, highlighting the difference in pupil size to gain a better picture of refraction needs. Other functions include being able to show the impact of glare on a patient’s vision.
An auto kerato-refractometer is one of the first steps to providing enhanced vision care for your patients. Offering reliable diagnostic data, modern auto kerato-refractometers offer automatic measurements, including the curvature of the cornea and the index of refraction.
These measurements are crucial in being able to examine a patient’s vision abilities and can make it easier to prescribe the right lenses. Many automated refractometers can also automatically share data with a phoropter, making the process much more efficient.
Focimeters are an incredibly helpful pre-test instrument to identify the prescription or power of lenses. This is convenient if a patient has lost their previous prescription, as the focimeter can help you understand what power the lenses are and how effective they are in creating sharper vision.
A focimeter can be used by an Optometrist to decide if new lenses need to be prescribed, or if their power is still sufficient. It’s important to look for focimeters that have been equipped with helpful features, including lens support to suit all lenses and frames.
Another key feature to look out for is a green measurement LED. This can reduce any measurement drift that can be caused by light deviation in the lens. The green LED can ensure more precise results.
Another important pre-test instrument is the perimeter. This is useful for testing visual fields. The latest perimeters not only use standard testing techniques, but also implement the latest visual field testing approaches to ensure precision and reliability.
Features like eye tracking, blink control and fast results can make the process much more efficient and reliable. Investing in cutting edge technology such as the latest perimeter instruments can make it a much more insightful experience for both the patient and the Optometrist.
