A Comparison Between Manually-Operated And Automated Lensometers.

With the dramatic increase in automation and computerization in the optometric profession, the practitioners, technicians and opticians are subjected to a deluge of advertisements,
demonstrations and claims concerning these electronic marvels. Once the machine's impressive appearance, ease of operation, price tag and accessories are placed to one side, one logical question might be, "How accurate is it?" This is especially true in considering automated lensometers. The major problem in trying to answer the question of accuracy in a lensometer is that there is no ultimately correct "reader" of lens power. For years the manually operated focimeter with its cross-hair target and power wheel on one side has been the standard. It's difficult to say that this instrument always gives the correct lens power because blur interpretation and axis orientation are subjective when using
this instrument. Extrapolating in one's own mind which dioptric value the power indicator is closest to can also enter into the results.