Evaluation of objective and subjective binocular ocular refraction with looking in type

Abstract Background This study aimed to compare the results of the Chronos binocular/monocular refraction system, that measures objective and subjective ocular refraction in one unit, to objective findings obtained from a conventional autorefractometer and a conventional subjective ocular refraction using a trial-frame in real space. Methods Twenty-eight healthy volunteers (21.2 ± 1.5 years old) were included in this study. Objective ocular refraction was measured using two tests: the Chronos binocular/monocular refraction system under binocular conditions and a conventional autorefractometer under monocular conditions. Subjective ocular refraction was measured using three tests: Chronos binocular/monocular refraction system under binocular, monocular conditions, and trial-frame in the real space under monocular conditions. The measurement distance was set to 5.0 m for each test. All ocular refractions were converted into spherical equivalents (SEs). Results The objective SE was significantly more negative with Chronos binocular/monocular refraction system under binocular condition (− 4.08 ± 2.76 D) than with the conventional autorefractometer under monocular condition (− 3.85 ± 2.66 D) ( P = 0.002). Although, the subjective SE was significantly more negative with Chronos binocular/monocular refraction system under binocular condition (− 3.55 ± 2.67 D) than with the trial-frame in the real space under monocular condition (− 3.33 ± 2.75 D) ( P = 0.002), Chronos binocular/monocular refraction system under monocular condition (− 3.17 ± 2.57 D) was not significantly different from that in trial-frame in real space under monocular condition ( P = 0.33). Conclusion These findings suggest that the Chronos binocular/monocular refraction system, which can complete both objective and subjective ocular refraction tests in a single unit, is suitable for screening ocular refraction, although it produces slightly more myopic results. Furthermore, subjective ocular refraction testing accuracy in Chronos binocular/monocular refraction system can be equivalent to trial-frame in real-space testing by switching from binocular to monocular condition.