Description:

The Topcon KR-8000 pairs objective autorefraction with automated keratometry in a compact bench unit that still reads reliably through a 2 mm pupil. Topcon’s exclusive rotary-prism measuring system projects an off-centre ring target and analyses the returned image through a spinning glass prism, letting the instrument sample a wider fundus zone than conventional ring-illuminated heads. An auto-fog fixation chart relaxes accommodation, while auto-start/manual-start options, PD capture to 85 mm and a one-hand omni-directional joystick make single-operator alignment quick—even on elderly or asymmetric pupils. The CRT display shows sphere, cylinder, axis and keratometry instantly, and the unit runs from any 100–240 V outlet with no external PC or printer required.

Economic Advantage:

By folding two core pre-test steps into one fast measurement the KR-8000 trimmed chair time and freed floor space, but its real “claim to fame” was cutting retakes. The rotary-prism optics and 2 mm-pupil capability meant fewer uninterpretable traces on highly myopic, glaucomatous or poorly dilating eyes, so practices spent less staff time repeating tests and got more accurate starting values for refraction—reducing overall exam length and improving patient throughput. The instrument’s rock-solid mechanics (no motors beyond the prism drive) and field-selectable line voltage also kept maintenance and downtime to a minimum, delivering a low total cost per exam.