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 a Patient Management System.


To show the Scratch-pad, select Scratchpad as shown below.



The Scratch-pad can store up to 7 prescriptions.  These are labelled Final 1, Final 2, Retinoscopy, Autorefractor, 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 and Receive 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.


A prescription may be copied from one scratch-pad to another by using the Copy and Paste buttons.


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 Settings screen.