During your regular eye exams at Scottsdale Eye Physicians & Surgeons, we will run a variety of tests to determine the health and strength of your eyes and vision. During these tests you will undergo a refraction test, or a test to let your ophthalmologist know exactly what prescription you might need in glasses or contact lenses. As the ophthalmologists here at Scottsdale Eye are on the forefront of exam technology, we employ the Zeiss i.Profiler combined with Zeiss i.Scription lenses to provide our patients with the highest possible prescription accuracy.
Refraction Tests Before i.Profiler
Before the Zeiss i.Profiler, ophthalmologists would use a phoropter, or a very large, very bulky piece of equipment that is always associated with eye exams. This piece of equipment somewhat resembles a large mask, and is encompassed with multiple lenses to measure refractive error. The patient would sit behind the phoropter and provide the ophthalmologist with feedback based on which lenses gave them the best vision.
On occasion this test is combined with a retinoscope to obtain more accurate measurements for prescription purposes, but in most cases much of the resulted measurements were done to the best judgment of the patient and the ophthalmologist working together.
Refraction Tests After i.Profiler
The Zeiss i.Profiler is “the first instrument to use innovative wavefront technology to precisely and objectively measure the vision profiles” of patients, according to the manufacturer’s website. This piece of technology has the ability to “simulate night and twilight conditions,” allowing your Scottsdale ophthalmologist to diagnose the most optimized lenses solution for the patient.
The correct lenses can only be prescribed when the ophthalmologist has enough accurate information about the patient’s eyes. The Zeiss i.Profiler takes away any guessing and any patient apprehension that is often associated with the phoropter, where patient participation is a necessity. The Zeiss i.Profiler provides your Scottsdale ophthalmologist a detailed visual profile, which leads to more answers for the professional and less questions for the patient.
While the old system of refraction tests were lengthy and depended greatly upon the patient’s participation, the Zeiss i.Profiler method can obtain measurements of both eyes in approximately 60 seconds.
The i.Profiler can also produce a very precise eyeglass prescription, called a Zeiss i.Scription that, when combined with new Zeiss digital lens grinding technology, can create prescription lenses that are far superior to anything offered in the past. The i.Scription lenses can improve night vision, reduce glare, and offer better color vision. The Zeiss i.Scription can also be used to make much improved computer glasses.
For some, Zeiss i.Scription can mean an entirely new quality of vision — especially at night, when the risk of having a traffic accident is at its highest due to reflections, mirror images, limited vision, and low contrast. These conditions can irritate and fatigue the eyes and the human sensory system, according to Zeiss.com.
Dennis Kilpatrick, MD and William Kilpatrick, MD are two of only a handful of eye doctors in the entire state chosen by Zeiss to offer i.Profiler and i.Scription technology. For more information on eye exams at Scottsdale Eye Physicians & Surgeons, give us a call. And don’t forget to ask about Zeiss i.Profiler and Zeiss i.Scription technology.