The Refraction Assessment and the Electronic Trial Frame Measurement during Standing or Sitting Position Can Affect Postural Stability

Abstract

Vision has been shown to influence body posture. The purpose of this study is to investigate the correlations between visual acuity and body postural control both in a standing and seated position. This cohort study included 37 patients examined using Adaptica’s (Italy) Kaleidos and VisionFit. Objective refraction was measured with Kaleidos both in a standing and seated position by the same operator and in the same environmental conditions. The parameters obtained with the device were binocular refraction, monocular refraction, pupil distance, pupil size, head tilt, gaze, phorias, and tropias. The results obtained were then subjectively tested using VisionFit: an electronic trial frame with phoropter functionalities. The study’s outcome revealed that the differences in the visual acuity parameters obtained in standing and seated positions were statistically significant; the Student’s t-test showed a p-value < 0.001 in all parameter averages. Automated refraction is widely being performed and postural control can affect the visual acuity parameters; therefore, it is relevant to consider the possibility of measuring in orthostatism. It might be appropriate to take into account the possibility of measuring in orthostatism and wearing trial frames in orthostatic conditions as well as walking freely around the room, looking outside of a window, sitting, and reading.