AIM: To evaluate the accuracy of HAR-800 hand-held autorefractor on preschool children.

METHODS:Totally 173 preschool children were included in this study. They were performed HAR-800 hand-held autorefractor examination before using atropine ointments for cycloplegic refraction. The results from HAR-800 refractor were set as experimental group, and the cycloplegic refraction were controlled group. The refractions between the two groups were compared and analyzed.

RESULTS: The sphere was 1.59±0.61D in the experimental group, while 3.15±0.72D in the controlled group. The difference was significant(t=-82.89, P<0.001), however, there was a significant correlation(r=0.87, P<0.001, Pearsons correlation analysis). The cylinder difference was also significant(t=-6.97,P<0.001)and a significant correlation also existed between the two groups(r=0.76,P<0.001, Pearsons correlation analysis).

CONCLUSION: The HAR-800 hand-held autorefractor can not replace cyclopegic refraction using atropine, but the results can reflect the preschool children refraction.