# Retinoscopy > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Retinoscopy > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Retinoscopy.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Retinoscopy > Source revision: 1327890217 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) Technique to measure refractive error in eyes Medical intervention Retinoscopy A retinoscope being used in conjunction with a trial frame and trial lenses in order to determine the patient's refractive error MeSH D042262 [edit on Wikidata] **Retinoscopy** is a technique to obtain an objective measurement of the [refractive error](/source/Refractive_error) of a patient's [eyes](/source/Eye).[1] ## How It Works The examiner uses a **retinoscope** to shine light into the patient's eye and observes the reflection (reflex) off the patient's [retina](/source/Retina). While moving the streak or spot of light through the pupil across the retina, the examiner observes the relative movement of the reflex or manually places lenses over the eye (using a [phoropter](/source/Phoropter) or [trial frame](/source/Trial_frame) and trial lenses) to "neutralize" the reflex.[2] ### Static Retinoscopy Static retinoscopy is a type of retinoscopy used in determining a patient's refractive error. It relies on [Foucault knife-edge test](/source/Foucault_knife-edge_test), which states that the examiner should simulate [optical infinity](/source/Infinity_focus) to obtain the correct refractive power. Hence, a power corresponding to the working distance is subtracted from the gross retinoscopy value to give the patient's [refractive condition](/source/Refractive_error), the working distance lens being one which has a focal length of the examiner's distance from the patient (e.g. +1.50 [dioptre](/source/Dioptre) lens for a 67 [cm](/source/Centimetre) working distance). [Myopes](/source/Myopia) display an "against" reflex, which means that the direction of movement of light observed from the retina is a different direction to that in which the light beam is swept. [Hyperopes](/source/Hyperopia), on the other hand, display a "with" movement, which means that the direction of movement of light observed from the retina is the same as that in which the light beam is swept.[3] Static retinoscopy is performed when the patient has relaxed accommodative status. This can be obtained by the patient viewing a distance target or by the use of [cycloplegic drugs](/source/Cycloplegia#Cycloplegic_drugs) (where, for example, a child's lack of reliable fixation of the target can lead to fluctuations in [accommodation](/source/Accommodation_(eye)) and thus the results obtained). Dynamic retinoscopy is performed when the patient has active accommodation from viewing a near target.[4] ## Uses Retinoscopy is particularly useful in prescribing corrective lenses for patients who are unable to undergo a subjective refraction that requires a judgement and response from the patient (such as children or those with severe intellectual disabilities or communication problems).[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] In most tests however, it is used as a basis for further refinement by subjective refraction. It is also used to evaluate [accommodative ability](/source/Accommodation_(eye)) of the eye and detect latent [hyperopia](/source/Hyperopia).[5] ## See also - [Eye examination](/source/Eye_examination) - [Ophthalmoscope](/source/Ophthalmoscope) - [Monocular estimate method](/source/Monocular_estimate_method) - [Red reflex](/source/Red_reflex) - [Eye care professional](/source/Eye_care_professional) - [Dispensing optician](/source/Dispensing_optician) - [Ophthalmologist](/source/Ophthalmologist) - [Optometrist](/source/Optometrist) - [Orthoptist](/source/Orthoptist) ## References 1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["Retinoscopy - American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus"](https://aapos.org/glossary/retinoscopy). *aapos.org*. Retrieved 2020-04-30. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** "Clinical Refraction" by Irvin Borish. The Professional Press, Chicago, Ill. 3rd edition 1970. p.47-63 1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** "Clinical Refraction" by Irvin Borish. The Professional Press, Chicago, Ill. 3rd edition 1970. p.657 1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** "Clinical Refraction" by Irvin Borish. The Professional Press, Chicago, Ill. 3rd edition 1970. p.697 1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** "Clinical Refraction" by Irvin Borish. The Professional Press, Chicago, Ill. 3rd edition 1970. p.700 ## External links - [Slide show of retinoscopy](https://www.slideshare.net/laxmieyeinstitute/retinoscopy-and-its-principles) - [Foucault test](https://spie.org/etop/1999/408_1.pdf) - [Retinoscopy simulator online](https://www.aao.org/interactive-tool/retinoscopy-simulator) v t e Tests and procedures involving the eyes Anesthesia for eye surgery Eye surgery Oculoplastics Eye examination Adnexa Eyelids Blepharoplasty East Asian blepharoplasty Epicanthoplasty Eyelid revision Hughes procedure Tarsorrhaphy Lacrimal system Dacryocystorhinostomy Punctoplasty Globe Refractive surgery Alpins method Automated lamellar keratoplasty Conductive keratoplasty Corneal inlay Epikeratophakia Epi-LASIK Intrastromal corneal ring segment Keratomileusis Laser blended vision Laser eye surgery Laser thermal keratoplasty LASIK Contoura Vision Limbal relaxing incisions Phakic intraocular lens implantation Photorefractive keratectomy Radial keratotomy SMILE Cataract surgery Capsulorhexis Capsulotomy Glued intraocular lens Hydrodelineation Hydrodissection Intraocular lens scaffold Manual small incision cataract surgery Phacoemulsification Prechop Retinal surgery Ignipuncture Laser photocoagulation Scleral buckle Glaucoma surgery Cyclodestruction Excimer laser trabeculostomy Minimally invasive glaucoma surgery Trabeculectomy Trabeculoplasty Transplantation Whole eye transplantation Corneal transplantation Corneal button Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty Pre-Descemet's endothelial keratoplasty Retinal regeneration Other Anterior chamber paracentesis Boston keratoprosthesis Corneal collagen cross-linking Enucleation Conformer Evisceration Gundersen flap Intravitreal injection Iridectomy Peritomy Photodisruption Phototherapeutic keratectomy Pterygium Sclerotomy Vitrectomy Extraocular muscles Harada–Ito procedure Strabismus surgery Minimally invasive strabismus surgery Botulinum toxin therapy of strabismus Medical imaging Corneal topography Electrodiagnosis Electronystagmography Electrooculography Electroretinography Fluorescein angiography Fundus photography Heidelberg Retinal Tomography Indocyanine green angiography Optical coherence tomography Optical coherence tomography angiography Eye examination A-scan ultrasound biometry Amsler grid Bagolini Striated Glasses Test Color perception test Dilated fundus examination Gonioscopy Ocular tonometry Ophthalmoscopy Retinoscopy Slit-lamp examination Visual field test Radiation therapy Plaque radiotherapy History Couching Cryoextraction --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Retinoscopy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Retinoscopy) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Retinoscopy?action=history)). 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