Prescription Scratch-pad

The Prescription Scratch-pad provides a prescription memory space so that different prescriptions can be readily sent and received to/from the phoropter.  The Scratch-pad is also used to import and export prescriptions from the Internal Database or a Patient Management System.

The Scratch-pad can store up to 7 prescriptions.  These are labelled Final 1, Final 2, Ret, Autorefr, Focimeter, Old Rx 1 and Old Rx 2 although in practice each can be used to store any prescription.

To show a specific prescription, simply select the corresponding Tab.  This now becomes the Current prescription which will be sent to the phoropter or receive the prescription from the phoropter when Send to Phoropter and Receive from Phoropter buttons are selected.

A prescription may be entered into the Scratch-pad by clicking on an element of the prescription and then using the mouse wheel.

The entire Scratch-pad can be cleared by selecting Clear All.  The Current prescription is cleared by selecting Clear Current.

The patients name, the name, date of birth and reference number may be recorded along with the name of the Optometrist and relevant notes. Test Chart 2016 retains a database of the names of Optometrists to avoid having to type this in every time.  To add the name of an Optometrist, select ADD.  The name will then appear in the pull-down list labelled Optom.

The Current prescription showing on the Scratch-pad can be sent to the phoropter by clicking on Send to Phoropter.  The prescription currently in the phoropter can be received by the Scratch-pad by selecting Receive from Phoropter. This will be assigned to whatever prescription is currently selected in the Scratch-pad.

Importing and Exporting prescriptions

The current prescriptions held in the scratch-pad of the Phoropter interface can be transferred to and from a Patient Management System (PMS) such as Optix, using a generic CSV file. This is a text file which is stored in a common directory on the PC. The PMS system must write the prescription data in the prescribed format to this directory.

The allows prescriptions to be readily transferred to and from a PMS (assuming the PMS includes a suitable interface).

The name and location of the intermediate CSV file can be selected from the Phoropter tab of the Program Options window.

Internal database

If a PMS system is not used or is incompatible with the phoropter interface, an Internal database may be used to keep a record of prescriptions.  If this option is to be used, Use internal patient database must be selected from the Phoropter tab of the Program Options window.