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Visionstar VT-5C

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Visionstar ENT, Ophthalmic & Sensory

Visionstar VT-5C

Product Code: EOAS-OD-2651

A scale for vertex distance, not a judgement call.

Positioning made measurable. The VT-5C sets corneal distance on a graduated device, offers a 19 mm effective field, adjusts PD across 48–80 mm and the forehead rest through 16 mm, and carries a reversal cross cylinder at both ±0.25D and ±0.50D.

Sections

Phoropters

Categories

ENT, Ophthalmic & Sensory

Condition

New

Origin

China

Seller Type

Certified Professional Seller

CE & ISO Certified

Global Shipping

Supplier: Medigear

The Visionstar VT-5C is a manual phoropter distinguished by how thoroughly its positioning is specified. Where most manual heads leave vertex distance, forehead position and convergence geometry to be set by eye, this one puts each on a scale or a stated figure — which is what turns a careful clinician's intent into a repeatable measurement.

The corneal distance device adjusts 2 mm forward and 5 mm backward from the standard plane and carries a scale. Vertex distance changes the effective power of a lens, and the effect becomes clinically significant as power rises: a refraction taken at one vertex distance and dispensed at another will not deliver what was measured. A graduated device lets the clinician set a known distance, record it, and match the eventual frame fit to it. The effective field of view is 19 mm, which governs how open the view feels to the patient and how much peripheral awareness they retain during the examination.

Convergence is specified rather than approximated. The optical axes are aligned at 400 mm from the corneal vertexes, with 2 mm of inward movement each side, and the instrument supports convergence at interpupillary distances from 57 mm to 80 mm. That lower limit matters: patients with a narrow PD may fall below it at near, in which case near testing should be performed with a trial frame. Distance PD adjusts across 48–80 mm in 1 mm steps, and the forehead rest moves 16 mm forward and backward.

Sphere covers +16.75D to -19.00D at 0.25D or 0.12D minimum reading with the auxiliary or optional fine lens in use. Cylinder covers 0 to -6.00D, extending to -8.00D with the -2.00D auxiliary lens. The astigmatic axis scale reads 0 to 180° in 5° steps, and the reversal-type cross cylinder — synchronised with that scale — is available at ±0.25D or ±0.50D. Rotary prism covers 0 to 20Δ in 1Δ steps. High-grade plated film coats all optical surfaces, and the butterfly-profile housing comes in two finishes. The auxiliary lens dial contents, dimensions and accessory schedule are not listed in the literature supplied; confirm these in writing at enquiry. Medigear.uk supplies the VT-5C with pre-despatch functional inspection and documentation review.

High-power refraction is where this instrument's positioning specification earns its place. Vertex distance alters effective lens power, and while the effect sits inside dispensing tolerance for ordinary prescriptions, it becomes clinically obvious above roughly ±10.00D. A graduated corneal distance device lets the clinician set a known vertex distance, record it alongside the prescription, and ensure the dispensed frame is fitted to match. Hospital eye service departments, aphakia and post-surgical refraction, and specialist contact lens practices all see the patients for whom this is not a refinement but a requirement.

The 19 mm effective field of view serves a different population. Patients who find phoropters confining — and a substantial minority do — tolerate a more open aperture considerably better, and anxious or claustrophobic patients are more likely to complete a careful subjective sequence without rushing it. Practices seeing a lot of first-time or nervous patients benefit directly.

The dual cross cylinder strengths support patients who cannot reliably discriminate a ±0.25D flip: those with reduced acuity, cataract, cognitive difficulty or simple end-of-appointment fatigue. Presenting ±0.50D gives them a comparison they can actually make, which is often the difference between a completed refinement and an abandoned one.

Routine community optometry is served by the standard specification: sphere to +16.75D and -19.00D, cylinder to -6.00D or -8.00D with the auxiliary lens, 0.12D minimum reading with the fine lens, synchronised cross cylinder refinement and rotary prism to 20Δ. Two limitations deserve honest weight. Convergence is supported for interpupillary distances of 57 mm to 80 mm, so narrow-PD patients need trial frame near testing. And the 5° astigmatic axis step is coarse relative to the rest of the specification, warranting trial frame confirmation of axis on high cylinders.

Vertex distance becomes a recorded number

A graduated corneal distance device turns a variable that most manual heads leave to eye into something set, read and written down. For high-power prescriptions that is the difference between a refraction that transfers to the dispensed frame and one that does not.

Patient position set deliberately, not assumed

The 16 mm forehead rest adjustment works with the corneal distance device so the patient's face sits where the clinician intends. Consistent positioning is the foundation of repeatable results, particularly where several clinicians share the instrument.

An open 19 mm field

A larger effective field feels less confining, supports more natural fixation and retains peripheral awareness. For nervous, claustrophobic or first-time patients that comfort translates directly into a more reliable subjective sequence.

Two cross cylinder strengths for difficult discriminators

Offering ±0.50D alongside ±0.25D gives patients with reduced acuity, cataract or fatigue a comparison they can genuinely make. The refinement step stops being where the examination stalls.

Cross cylinder always correctly presented

Both strengths are reversal type and synchronised to the astigmatic axis scale, so orientation follows the axis automatically. That removes a repeated manual step and a recognised error path at the most technique-sensitive point in the refraction.

Convergence geometry stated, not implied

The instrument specifies convergence at 400 mm from the corneal vertexes with 2 mm inward movement each side, across a defined PD band. Knowing the geometry — including where it stops — lets the clinician decide when to reach for a trial frame instead of discovering the limit mid-examination.

Fine reading available when warranted

The 0.12D minimum reading, with the auxiliary or optional fine lens in use, sits below the conventional quarter-dioptre step for patients who discriminate reliably and cases that should be settled precisely.

Plated-film optics throughout

Coating on all optical surfaces reduces internal reflection and preserves contrast at the low-contrast endpoint where subjective refraction is actually decided.

Nothing to power, charge or update

No display, no firmware, no battery, no mains requirement and no software platform. The instrument cannot be found unusable at the start of a clinic, and its working life is governed by its optics and mechanism alone.

Corneal distance device with scale

Adjusts 2 mm forward and 5 mm backward from the standard plane on a graduated scale, allowing vertex distance to be set to a known value and recorded.

Effective field of view 19 mm

Each aperture presents a 19 mm effective field, giving a more open view, more natural fixation behaviour and better tolerance among patients who find phoropters confining.

Dual-strength reversal cross cylinder

A reversal-type Jackson cross cylinder is available at ±0.25D and ±0.50D, both synchronised with the astigmatic axis scale so orientation follows the axis automatically.

Specified convergence geometry

Optical axes align at 400 mm from the corneal vertexes with 2 mm of inward movement each side, supporting convergence at interpupillary distances from 57 mm to 80 mm.

PD adjustment 48–80 mm in 1 mm steps

Distance pupillary distance adjusts across 48 mm to 80 mm in single-millimetre increments, covering adult and older paediatric interpupillary measurements.

Forehead rest adjustment 16 mm

The forehead rest moves 16 mm forward and backward to accommodate varying facial geometry and seat the patient consistently against the instrument.

Sphere power +16.75D to -19.00D

Spherical range spans 35.75 dioptres, covering the overwhelming majority of prescriptions met in general community optometry.

Minimum reading 0.25D or 0.12D

Sphere and cylinder resolve to 0.25D as standard and to 0.12D when the +0.12D auxiliary lens or optional ±0.12D lens is in use.

Cylinder power 0 to -6.00D

Cylinder covers 0 to -6.00D at 0.25D or 0.12D minimum reading, matching the increment used throughout refractive prescribing.

Cylinder extended to -8.00D

The -2.00D auxiliary lens extends cylinder range to 0 to -8.00D, bringing higher astigmatic prescriptions onto the instrument.

Astigmatic axis scale 0–180° in 5° steps

Axis reads across the full semicircle in five-degree increments, adequate for low and moderate cylinders with trial frame confirmation advisable at higher powers.

Rotary prism 0–20Δ in 1Δ steps

The rotary prism covers 0 to 20 prism dioptres in single-dioptre increments for phoria measurement, vergence testing and prism prescribing.

High-grade plated-film optics

All optical surfaces carry high-grade plated film coating to reduce internal reflection and preserve contrast at the refraction endpoint.

Butterfly-profile housing in two finishes

The butterfly-shaped housing presents a compact face to the patient and is available in two colour options to suit the consulting room.

Fully manual operation

Every control is mechanical and every value reads from a marked scale, with no electronics, display or power supply of any kind.

The Visionstar VT-5C is a manual phoropter that treats patient positioning as something to be measured rather than judged. A graduated corneal distance device adjusting 2 mm forward and 5 mm backward makes vertex distance a recorded value, which matters directly to whether a high-power refraction transfers correctly into dispensed spectacles. A 19 mm effective field of view, 16 mm forehead rest adjustment, 48–80 mm PD adjustment and a stated convergence geometry at 400 mm complete a specification unusually thorough about where the patient sits relative to the lenses. Reversal cross cylinders at both ±0.25D and ±0.50D, synchronised to the astigmatic axis, cover standard refinement and difficult discriminators alike. It suits hospital eye service and aphakia work, specialist contact lens practice, and any practice seeing nervous patients or high prescriptions. Convergence is supported only from 57 mm PD upward, the 5° axis step warrants trial frame confirmation on high cylinders, and the auxiliary dial contents, dimensions and accessories are unpublished and should be confirmed in writing. Medigear.uk supplies the VT-5C into the UK with pre-despatch functional inspection, documentation review and ongoing support. Contact the Medigear.uk team for current pricing, full specifications, refraction arm compatibility, or bespoke configuration enquiries.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Everything buyers need to know about sourcing medical equipment through MediGear.

It sets and reads the distance from the patient's cornea to the instrument's lens plane, adjusting 2 mm forward and 5 mm backward from a standard plane on a graduated scale. Vertex distance alters effective lens power, negligibly at low powers and substantially at high ones. Setting it to a known figure — and recording that figure — means the refraction can be matched to the vertex distance of the frame the patient will actually wear.

Broadly, above about ±5.00D it starts to matter and above ±10.00D it matters a great deal. A high minus lens moved a few millimetres closer to the eye becomes effectively weaker; a high plus lens becomes stronger. For ordinary low prescriptions the difference is inside dispensing tolerance, which is why many clinicians never think about it — but for the high-power cases it is the difference between a prescription that works and one the patient returns.

It describes how much the patient can see through each aperture. A larger field feels less like looking down a tube, allows more natural fixation behaviour and retains some peripheral awareness, which matters for patient comfort and for anyone who finds phoropters claustrophobic. It is one of the specifications that separates a comfortable examination from a merely accurate one.

The ±0.25D cross cylinder is standard for cylinder refinement. The ±0.50D version presents a larger difference between the two flip positions, which helps patients who cannot reliably discriminate the finer comparison — reduced acuity, cataract, cognitive difficulty or simple fatigue at the end of a long appointment. Both are reversal type and synchronised with the astigmatic axis, so each stays correctly oriented as the axis moves.

That the optical axes converge to meet at 400 mm from the corneal vertexes, achieved by moving each aperture 2 mm inward, and that this works for interpupillary distances between 57 mm and 80 mm. In plain terms: near testing at 40 cm is properly supported for patients whose PD falls in that band.

Then convergence at 400 mm is outside the instrument's stated range and near testing should be done with a trial frame instead. This affects some paediatric patients and small-featured adults. Note the distinction from distance PD, which adjusts down to 48 mm — the narrower limit applies specifically to converged near testing, not to distance refraction.

It moves the forehead rest forward and backward through 16 mm, accommodating different facial geometry so the patient sits consistently against the instrument. Combined with the corneal distance device, it means the patient's position relative to the lenses is set deliberately rather than assumed.

Cylinder axis adjusts in 5° increments. For low and moderate cylinders this is adequate, since dispensing tolerances on axis widen as cylinder power falls. On high cylinders the 5° step is a real limitation and the axis should be confirmed by trial frame. It is worth weighing this against the instrument's otherwise careful approach to measurement.

The manufacturer literature supplied does not list the auxiliary lens dial contents. A phoropter of this class would normally carry pinhole, occluder, Maddox rods, red-green and polarising filters, retinoscopic lens and dissociating prisms, but Medigear.uk will not assert a complement the literature does not state. Request the full listing in writing at enquiry, particularly if binocular vision assessment is central to your practice.

The head mounts to a refraction unit arm or a dedicated phoropter stand — it is not free-standing. Mounting interfaces vary between manufacturers, so the arm or unit it will hang from must be confirmed before order. Practices setting up a testing room from scratch will need a stand or combined chair-and-stand specified alongside; Medigear.uk can quote for that at the same time.

A phoropter is a non-invasive ophthalmic measuring instrument, most consistently classified as Class I under the UK Medical Devices Regulations 2002, or higher where configuration dictates. Manufacturer CE marking is noted where it appears in the product literature; Medigear.uk confirms CE marking, the declaration of conformity and current UKCA status against the shipping batch at quotation rather than asserting it in advance.

Clean the lens apertures and coated surfaces with lens tissue, clean the forehead rest between patients with manufacturer-approved agents, and cover the instrument when idle. The corneal distance mechanism, the cross cylinder synchronising linkage and the rotary prism are all mechanical assemblies that benefit from periodic inspection — and the corneal distance scale is worth checking against a known reference occasionally, since its value lies in being trustworthy. Typical warranty is 12 to 24 months against manufacturing defect, confirmed at quotation.