Importance of proper statistical management of refractive data

Abstract

Biostatistics is the application of statistical tools to biological and health sciences and may be descriptive or inferential; their application is essential to quantitative research. It’s important to generate optometric research in Colombia, not only descriptive but also analytical and experimental, with the appropriate application of parametric and nonparametric statistical procedures; for this purpose it’s important, since the methodology of the studies, to consider adequately the classification of the variables or characteristics under observation. This article suggests that for studies that include analysis of refractive techniques such retinoscopy, autorefraction or subjective, measurements must be taken in the traditional form (sphere, cylinder and axis) and then categorized in the most appropriate level in each case (nominal, ordinal, numeric) in order to apply statistical techniques that allow to give an adequate management of data and to reach valid and reliable conclusions. Thus, the results of research conducted in our country about refraction methods may be compared with those carried out in countries like the United States, Australia or UK.