Comparison of the results of four different refraction measurement devices in children with retinoscopy

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare the results of 4 different autorefractometer devices with the results of retinoscopy in children. Methods: A total of 120 eyes of 60 patients aged between 6 and 18, who applied to Afyonkarahisar Health Sciences University unit of Pediatric Ophthalmology, were included in the study. Refraction with Plusoptix A09 (photoscreener) without cycloplegia was the first to be measured. Spherical and cylindrical values were recorded. Then, half an hour after the patients were instilled 2 drops of cyclopentolate with an interval of 5 minutes, dilated retinoscopy was performed, and spherical and cylindrical values were recorded. Autorefractometer measurements with cycloplegia were performed with Canon RK-F1 autorefractometer, Nidek Tonoref III and Retinomax K-Plus 3, and spherical and cylindrical values were recorded. Results: The mean age of the patients was 11.02 ± 2.1. The mean spherical equivalents were Canon RKF1 autorefractometer +0.045 ± 2.49, Nidek TonoRef III +0.023 ± 2.48, Retinomax K-Plus 3 +0.078 ± 1.42, Plusoptix A09 -0.119 ± 2.20, retinoscopy +0.124 ± 2.65. Moreover, the mean cylindrical values were Canon RK-F1 autorefractometer -0.893 ± 0.69, Nidek TonoRef III -0.927 ± 0.72, Retinomax K-Plus 3 -0.888 ± 0.73, Plusoptix A09 -0.883 ± 0.719, retinoscopy -0.923 ± 0.71. The statistical values compared with retinoscopy; Canon RKF1 spherical equivalent (p=0.376), cylindrical (p=0.515), Nidek TonoRef III spherical equivalent (p=0.485), cylindrical (p=0.198), Retinomax K-Plus 3 spherical equivalent (p=0.141), cylindrical (p=0.058), Plusoptix A09 spherical equivalent (p=0.085) and cylindrical (p=0.086) values were not different. Conclusions: In spherical and cylindrical refractive error detection, all 4 devices showed reasonable and consistent results compared to retinoscopy.