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Introduction: a book for ophthalmologists

Refraction, like most practical skills, is an art with a scientific basis. Once mastered, it is satisfying for the practitioner and patient. However, learning to refract is initially often bewildering for junior ophthalmologists. When starting to learn refraction ourselves, everyone told us that practise was the key. We agree strongly with this, but the obvious problem is what to practise.

The aim of this handbook is to provide a concise and simple understanding of the refractive process. As far as the authors are aware, this is the first published book to focus on the relatively new format of the Refraction Certificate Examination.

This book has been written for junior ophthalmologists who have passed the Royal College of Ophthalmologists’ Part 1 Examination and are about to prepare for the Refraction Certificate Examination. It will also aid those revising for the optics section of the Part 1 Examination, since it will help link theory to practice.

We also hope that this book will be useful to junior optometrists and any senior ophthalmologist who has let their refractive skill slip and needs a brief reminder of this technique.

Jonathan C Park and David H Jones

November 2012