instrumental strategies
The New Velo Refraction System
R.H. Burton's device gives you time to provide more comprehensive eye care.

Like many of my colleagues today, I'm now providing more comprehensive eye care. I prescribe medications, treat eye diseases and co-manage patients having eye surgery -- quite different from my days in the not-so-distant past when my primary responsibility was performing refractions.

While I view these changes as positive and exciting, they come with the challenge of having to better manage my time. I began searching for a way to reduce the time I spent refracting without sacrificing the quality my patients have come to trust and appreciate. That's when I decided to try R. H. Burton Company's new Velo Automated Refraction System.

The Velo is four instruments in one.

Getting to know the Velo

The Velo Automated Refraction System includes an autorefractor, an auto lensmeter, a motorized refractor and a motorized projector -- all integrated into a network controlled by a specially programmed laptop keypad. The data from the autorefractor and auto lensmeter is sent to the motorized refractor and used as a starting point for the subjective refraction; retinoscopy can also be performed through the motorized refractor as another objective measure and starting point for the refraction.

A projector with versatility

The motorized projector is available as a conventional stand-mounted unit for projection at a minimum of 12 feet for a standard length room or a table-mounted, self-contained internal projection unit set at one meter for a smaller room. Each projector has five different acuity slides including Snellen letters, Landolt C, Tumbling E, numbers and a children's picture slide. Multiple binocular balance, fixation disparity and phoria tests are available. These include Worth 4 Dot, Schober, Von Graefe, Maddox Rod, Stereopsis and Aniseikonia.

Preprogram your refractions

The Velo system has the capability to preprogram 11 different refraction sequences for specific patient needs (pediatric, low vision, post-op cataract or LASIK, binocular dysfunction, standard refraction, etc.), and has the capacity to do 35 different refractive tests. The laptop keypad displays the prescription in the refractor, any auxiliary lenses in the refractor, the projector slide the patient is seeing, the question to ask the patient and the action to take depending on the patient's response. The system can also compare the new findings with the patient's old glasses. You can print all stored data on tape from the laptop keypad or to a networked printer.

Forget the back aches

After using the new Velo Automated Refracting System for six months, I've found that it performs quick and accurate objective and subjective refractions, including all binocular vision tests both at distance and near, and it enables me to see more exams each day with less prescription errors. The perceived high tech computerized nature of the exam also makes the patient feel more comfortable with the results of the refraction.

Plus, it decreases stress on my neck, shoulders and back muscles because I don't have to raise my arms all day doing conventional refractor exams. Lastly, it allows me to feel more comfortable letting my technician perform the refraction -- giving me more time to be a complete eye health provider.

If the Velo Refracting System interests you, call (800) 848-0410 or e-mail sales@rhburton.com.

DR. SMILEY IS IN PRIVATE PRACTICE IN COLUMBUS, OHIO. YOU CAN REACH HIM AT (614) 459-0600.