Introduction to Retinoscopy

Retinoscopy is used to objectively determine the refractive error of an eye. Since no responses are required from the patient, retinoscopy can be performed on a child, a blind person, or even a dog. There are two principal types of retinoscope available—spot and streak. While those who use spot retinoscopes believe their instruments to be superior to streak retinoscopes, we will be describing the technique used in streak retinoscopy. The reason for this selection is due to the immense popularity of the streak retinoscope and not due to any bias on the author’s part. Retinoscopy is an art that is well worth learning. While autorefractors have become quite accurate, an experienced retinoscopist can achieve the same degree of accuracy. Performing
retinoscopy also allows the examiner to view the quality of the optical medium of the eye, providing
information that the autorefractor cannot. A picture is worth a thousand words—retinoscopy
is equivalent to a picture.


Learning the steps involved in retinoscopy is not difficult for most people. Like any art, to become good at retinoscopy requires experience. Many an aspiring retinoscopist reserves practice time for occasions when the trusty autorefractor is unable to provide any hint regarding a particular eye’s refractive error. Much to his or her dismay, the inexperienced retinoscopist also fails.
This can cause a decrease in the student’s confidence, and the retinoscope quickly becomes a dust-collecting light stick. If you want to learn retinoscopy, you must gain experience on eyes with normal media and normal-sized pupils. Once you are proficient in normal eyes, you are ready to begin testing your skills on eyes with small pupils and/or imperfect media.