Evaluating refraction and visual acuity with the Nidek autorefractometer AR‐360A in a randomized population‐based screening study

Purpose The evaluation of visual acuity (VA) and refraction in the Northern Finland Birth Cohort Eye study was performed using the Nidek AR‐360A autorefractometer. The accuracy of the method for this population‐based screening study was assessed. Methods Measurements of the refractive error were obtained from the right eyes of 1238 subjects (mean age 47), first objectively with the AR‐360A and then subjectively by an optometrist. Agreement with the subjective refraction was calculated for sphere, cylinder, mean spherical equivalent (MSE), cylindrical vectors J45 and J0 and presbyopic correction (add). Visual acuity (VA) was measured using an ETDRS chart and the autorefractometer. Results The refractive error measured with the AR‐360A was higher than the subjective refraction performed by the optometrist for sphere (0.007 D ± 0.24 D p = 0.30) and also for cylinder (−0.16 D ± 0.20 D p