{"id":20189,"date":"2021-12-12T15:55:30","date_gmt":"2021-12-12T15:55:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/?page_id=20189"},"modified":"2021-12-12T15:55:30","modified_gmt":"2021-12-12T15:55:30","slug":"cycloplegic-refraction-top-5-qas","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/childrens-vision\/guide-to-childrens-eye-exams\/cycloplegic-refraction-top-5-qas\/","title":{"rendered":"Cycloplegic Refraction: Top 5 Q&As"},"content":{"rendered":"

Here are answers to the most frequently asked questions about this eye test.\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n

Comprehensive eye exams<\/a> are key to ensuring that your child has the vision they need for success in school and in life.<\/p>\n

But how do eye doctors know that they\u2019re seeing the whole picture and giving your child what they need to succeed?<\/i><\/p>\n

In a 2015 report entitled <\/b>The Impact of Myopia and High Myopia, <\/i><\/b>the World Health Organization recommended that children receive a cycloplegic refraction to help eye doctors fully evaluate their vision, detect potential issues early, and ensure accuracy of glasses and contact lens prescriptions.<\/b><\/p>\n

Not sure what a cycloplegic refraction is?<\/em>\u00a0Learn more with our top 5 most frequently asked questions.<\/em><\/p>\n

Q1: What is refraction?<\/b><\/h2>\n

A refraction is the part of the eye exam that evaluates your eyes for refractive errors, such as nearsightedness<\/a>, farsightedness<\/a>, and astigmatism<\/a>, to determine the extent of those errors, if present<\/b>.<\/p>\n

Your eye doctor will begin the test by using either retinoscopy or an auto-refractor \u2014 shining a light into the eyes to observe how the light bends as it travels through the cornea and lens<\/a> to your retina<\/a>, at the back of the eye.<\/p>\n

This will give them an initial sense of whether there is a refractive error, and a rough estimate of the extent of that error.<\/p>\n

Your eye doctor will also conduct a standard refraction, using a trial frame or phoropter head and multiple choices of lenses, to achieve an exact measurement of your optical prescription.<\/p>\n

These tests are meant to help your eye doctor evaluate whether you have a refractive error and what optical prescription will be best to correct it.<\/p>\n

Q2: What is a cycloplegic refraction?<\/b><\/h2>\n

A cycloplegic refraction<\/a> is a procedure in which the eye doctor uses eye drops to relax the eye muscles in charge of focusing.<\/b><\/p>\n

Cycloplegic eye drops will cause your pupils to dilate<\/a>, and prevent you from over-focusing during your eye exam.<\/p>\n

Your eye doctor will have a wider view of the inside of your eyes, making it easier to detect signs of eye disease, such as glaucoma<\/a> and macular degeneration<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Your eye doctor will also be able to more easily determine the full extent of your vision, without the concern that results may be skewed by inadvertent over-focusing.<\/p>\n

Q3: Why is a cycloplegic refraction important during children\u2019s eye exams?<\/b><\/h2>\n

A cycloplegic refraction stops the child from subconsciously over-focusing, allowing the eye doctor to reveal the child\u2019s correct optical prescription and identify <\/b>early signs of serious eye conditions, such as lazy eye<\/a> or strabismus<\/a>.<\/b><\/p>\n

Children\u2019s eye exams<\/a> can also be more difficult than adult eye exams<\/a> for a number of reasons:<\/p>\n