If you cannot get a reading on the autorefractor, what is the recommended action?

When an autorefractor fails to provide a reading, ensuring the patient's proper positioning and comfort is crucial. Proper forehead placement serves to stabilize the patient's head, which is necessary for an accurate measurement. Additionally, having the patient blink helps clear any obstructions on the cornea, such as tears or debris, ensuring that the autorefractor can obtain a clear view of the retina for measurement.

This action is fundamental because the autorefractor relies on capturing light reflections from the retina to determine refractive errors. If the patient is not properly aligned or has not cleared their vision adequately, the device may struggle to obtain a clear reading. Hence, addressing these factors first is the most effective way to overcome the issue.

Changing the settings of the autorefractor or increasing the light intensity may assist in some situations but may not resolve fundamental issues related to patient positioning or comfort. While asking the patient to relax could be beneficial, without proper forehead placement and blinking, it does not directly address the most common barriers to obtaining a reading. Therefore, ensuring proper forehead placement and encouraging blinking is the most immediate and effective recommended action.