What does cycloplegic refraction help to determine?

Cycloplegic refraction is a specialized procedure used to assess the true refractive error of an individual's eyes. When cycloplegic agents are administered, they temporarily paralyze the ciliary muscle, which controls the eye's ability to accommodate or focus on near objects. This paralysis eliminates the influence of accommodation during the refractive assessment, allowing for a more accurate measurement of the eye's refractive state without the variability introduced by the eye's focusing ability.

By determining the true refractive error, healthcare professionals can more precisely prescribe corrective lenses or address other vision issues. This makes cycloplegic refraction fundamental in diagnosing conditions such as myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism, especially in cases where patient accommodation could distort the results.

Visual acuity, peripheral vision, and contrast sensitivity are important aspects of vision but are not directly evaluated through cycloplegic refraction. These tests serve different purposes and utilize different methodologies, which is why they don't fall under the primary focus of cycloplegic refraction.