The 1 Minute Eye Exam

[SubLGT]

I was at the optometrist this morning, inside Walmart, getting a new prescription for eyeglasses. My least favorite part of the exam is looking through the multi-lens phoropter (invented over a 100 years ago !) and judging which is better, #1 or #2.

This optical device from iCRx in Arizona looks very promising and the group behind it claim it produces a more accurate prescription than a phoropter, and in only 60 sec for both eyes. I don't think it is on the market quite yet.

https://www.ophthalmologytimes.com/view/changing-the-game-the-one-minute-eye-exam

https://icrxinc.com/about-icrx/

https://phoenixmed.arizona.edu/abou...d-accurately-read-eye-prescription-20-seconds

.....The device resembles a small telescope, when placed in front of one eye and focuses on an image about 20 feet away or a near distance. While focusing on that image, the system sends an infrared light inside the eye, which is unnoticeable to the patient. The light reflects off the retina of the eye, passes through three fluidic lenses and through a telescope carrying it to the sensor. If the light reflected off the retina comes back distorted, the sensor will detect it and instruct a small pump to increase or decrease the fluid in the lenses until the sensor sees the light in the proper format without distortion. The process takes less than 20 seconds, but during this time, the system evaluates hundreds of options until the right correction is achieved.

“The standard method in place is very subjective,” Dr. Peyman said. “The current process requires a patient to differentiate between the first and second image, which is not easy for anyone, especially children or the elderly. This device will take away the guessing for both the patient and provider.”

Not only does the test take less time, but it measures the eye prescription down to the fraction. Traditionally, the phoropter could measure the refractive power in steps of 0.25 diopter, but the new device can measure the refractive error much finer, down to 0.1 diopter.
“Human eye can differentiate much better than what glasses currently on the market can provide,” Dr. Peyman said. “If we can measure the refractive error down to the fraction, we can make lenses more accurate than what is already out there.”....

 

[researcher]

Thanks for the update on the latest tech. Very cool. How has it been for you at Walmart's vision dept? I've been wanting to check them out, but would be nice to hear your experience. I know every location is different.

 

[ecotourist]

I have better than average vision.

Some years ago I received a high tech prescription and had glasses made from it. They seemed to work fine. A year or two later saw an optometrist who did a manual prescription. That prescription was very different (so much so the optometrist was even concerned and checked it a couple of times) but I could see a lot better with that new prescription. So I'm firmly in the manual camp.

My current optometrist (after a change of cities) only uses the auto system to get close, then fine tunes the prescription manually.

What I've found helps in the 1 vs 2 questions (once it's getting close) is to concentrate on the same single letter. It's easier to tell which one is better that way rather than looking at the whole screen.

 

[Kira]

A "Great big beautiful tomorrow" story based on 150 examinations released over a year ago touting a machine funded by venture capitalists which is said to go into mall optical shops for testing.

I'm all for improvements and technological advancements, but what has happened with this thing over the past year?

Too bad this wasn't posted 3 weeks ago when I went in to the surgeon who installed astigmatism correcting lenses in both my eyes as part of cataract surgery. I would've asked her about it.

 

[Trav]

I have better than average vision.

Some years ago I received a high tech prescription and had glasses made from it.

How does that work when you wear glasses? I had a eye exam last Friday 20/20 with no glasses but that is only average or maybe a bit better than average given my age (67).

 

[SubLGT]

How has it been for you at Walmart's vision dept? I've been wanting to check them out, but would be nice to hear your experience. I know every location is different.

I've been going to the same Walmart Vision Center for the last 12 years and the experience has been variable, and depends mostly on the manager and optical staff. They have always honored the 60 day satisfaction guarantee. The Walmart Lens Lab has never given me lenses with the wrong prescription, but there have been a few cosmetic issues, such as scratches. I think they have lens facilities in three US locations. I will be getting another pair of Nikon "Focus" progressive lenses ($280 for clear lenses).

I read Walmart's optical sales were around 2 billion dollars in 2024. In 2023 Walmart announced they are investing some money into their vision center employees:
https://corporate.walmart.com/news/...ogram will help our,see better to live better.

...We’re also excited to share we’ll be raising pay for more than 4,000 opticians. After these investments, we expect the average wage for opticians to be more than $22.50 an hour. It’s another step in our strategy to offer good jobs that lead to great careers.

We’re making it easier for our vision center teams to grow their careers with the launch of the new Optician Development Program. This program will help our vision associates access higher-paying roles and more career opportunities by obtaining nationally recognized certification and licensure from the American Board of Opticianry and National Contact Lens Examiners as they continue to help patients see better to live better. The training is offered through the Optical Training Institute and is paid for 100% by Walmart, including reimbursement for any of the fees associated with the certification or licensure......

 

[SubLGT]

........ I had a eye exam last Friday 20/20 with no glasses but that is only average or maybe a bit better than average given my age (67).

I think that is well above average! Do you wear reading glasses?
The last time I had 20/20 vision in both eyes with no glasses was around 1975.

https://uihc.org/health-topics/what-2020-vision

......Only about 35 percent of all adults have 20/20 vision without glasses, contact lenses or corrective surgery.....

 

[Trav]

I think that is well above average! Do you wear reading glasses?
The last time I had 20/20 vision in both eyes with no glasses was around 1975.

https://uihc.org/health-topics/what-2020-vision

No glasses at all, I had cataracts some years ago that were so bad I was almost blind, they came from very long term use of prednisone.
Before that I had 20/25 but no glasses even to read. My mom had good vision well into her late 80's so may be it is hereditary.
The surgeon who did the job was very good, no stars after one 2 min laser touch up.

 

[researcher]

I've been going to the same Walmart Vision Center for the last 12 years and the experience has been variable, and depends mostly on the manager and optical staff. They have always honored the 60 day satisfaction guarantee. The Walmart Lens Lab has never given me lenses with the wrong prescription, but there have been a few cosmetic issues, such as scratches. I think they have lens facilities in three US locations. I will be getting another pair of Nikon "Focus" progressive lenses ($280 for clear lenses).

I read Walmart's optical sales were around 2 billion dollars in 2024. In 2023 Walmart announced they are investing some money into their vision center employees:
https://corporate.walmart.com/news/2023/05/31/walmart-raising-wages-investing-in-careers-for-more-than-7-000-opticians-and-pharmacists#:~:text=This program will help our,see better to live better.

thanks for explaining how it's been for you at Walmart.. doesn't sound too bad. Only if you get a decent office staff who knows what they're doing. Sounds like they knew their optical staff needed some training.. and $280 for progressives is a low price!

 

[ecotourist]

How does that work when you wear glasses? I had a eye exam last Friday 20/20 with no glasses but that is only average or maybe a bit better than average given my age (67).

Just back from a river cruise in Europe so my apologies for the tardy response.

I used to have 20/15 vision in both eyes (with glasses). That means I could see at 20 feet what people with "normal" vision can see at 15 feet. It comes down to a question about how well the entire eye is working (cornea, lens and retina) with the best external lenses (ie with the current prescription for glasses). On average, people have 20/20 vision with the best available external lenses and they can't see better than that no matter what you do.

A strange thing happened as I got older. My distant vision (without glasses) has progressively improved. I can now see quite well without glasses and passed the driver's vision test without glasses.

 

[97prizm]

I was at the optometrist this morning, inside Walmart, getting a new prescription for eyeglasses. My least favorite part of the exam is looking through the multi-lens phoropter (invented over a 100 years ago !) and judging which is better, #1 or #2.

This optical device from iCRx in Arizona looks very promising and the group behind it claim it produces a more accurate prescription than a phoropter, and in only 60 sec for both eyes. I don't think it is on the market quite yet.

https://www.ophthalmologytimes.com/view/changing-the-game-the-one-minute-eye-exam

https://icrxinc.com/about-icrx/

https://phoenixmed.arizona.edu/abou...d-accurately-read-eye-prescription-20-seconds

This is only part of it. My optometrist Also has a machine that can scan the back of the eye and spot issues or abnormal changes. You'll still need an experienced optometrist to perform the exam.