Description
What’s Included
- Nidek ARK-500A autorefractor keratometer
- Power cable
- 90-day Digital Eye Center warranty
Condition & Warranty
Used. This unit has been cleaned, tested and is in excellent working order, ready to use on arrival with no additional setup steps. It shows some cosmetic signs of previous use. Covered by a 90-day warranty on parts and workmanship.
Nidek ARK-500A Autorefractor Keratometer — Used Tabletop Auto Ref/Keratometer
The Nidek ARK-500A is a tabletop autorefractor keratometer that combines objective refraction (sphere, cylinder and axis) and corneal curvature measurement in one compact instrument. The Nidek ARK-500A uses auto tracking to hold vertical alignment and an auto shooting function that captures the reading the moment the eye is aligned and in focus, so technicians can move patients through pre-testing quickly and consistently. Beyond refraction and keratometry, the instrument also measures corneal size, pupil size and pupillary distance, and includes a dedicated cataract measurement mode. Results print on the built-in printer and can be exported through the RS-232C interface. For practices that want a dependable Nidek ARK-500A autorefractor keratometer for a pre-test lane, this used unit is tested and backed by a 90-day warranty.
A study indexed by the National Library of Medicine evaluated the accuracy of autorefraction against subjective refraction in an adult population, supporting the autorefractor’s role as the objective starting point for the refraction exam.
Why Practices Choose the Nidek ARK-500A
The ARK-500A covers the core pre-test measurements in a single footprint, which keeps the exam lane simple and frees the doctor to start the subjective refraction from a reliable objective baseline.
- Refraction and keratometry in one unit — objective sphere, cylinder and axis plus corneal curvature radius from the same alignment, without moving the patient to a second instrument
- Auto tracking and auto shooting — the instrument tracks alignment in the vertical direction and fires the measurement automatically when the eye is aligned and focused, reducing operator variability
- Cataract measurement mode — a dedicated mode for eyes with media opacities, helpful in practices that see many pre-operative cataract patients
- Corneal size, pupil size and PD — corneal size and pupil size measurement plus automatic or manual pupillary distance, useful data for contact lens and spectacle work
- Hard contact lens measurement — a dedicated procedure for measuring rigid contact lenses
- View comparison and ring image display — review the measurement ring image and compare views to judge the quality of each reading
- Built-in printer and RS-232C output — instant printouts at the lane and a serial interface for exporting data to a computer
Clinical Applications
- Pre-exam objective refraction as the starting point for manifest refraction in optometry and ophthalmology lanes
- Keratometry readings for contact lens fitting and follow-up
- Pre-operative cataract work-ups using the dedicated cataract measurement mode
- Pupillary distance and pupil size capture for optical dispensing
- Checking rigid contact lenses with the hard contact lens measurement procedure
Who This Is For
- Optometry practices adding or replacing a pre-test autorefractor keratometer
- Ophthalmology clinics that need a second refraction lane for technicians
- Optical shops and retail practices that want objective refraction and PD in one step
- New practices looking for a proven Nidek instrument at used-equipment pricing
Technical Specifications
| Specification | Detail |
| Manufacturer | Nidek Co., Ltd. |
| Model | ARK-500A |
| Type | Tabletop autorefractor keratometer |
| Measurement modes | AR/KM (refraction + keratometry), AR only, KM only |
| Additional measurements | Corneal size (CS), pupil size (PS), pupillary distance (auto or manual PD), hard contact lens |
| Special modes | Cataract measurement mode, view comparison, measurement ring image display |
| Alignment | Auto tracking (vertical) with auto shooting |
| Output | Built-in printer; RS-232C interface |
| Condition | Used |
| Warranty | 90-day Digital Eye Center warranty |
Compare Autorefractor Keratometer Options
| Feature | Nidek ARK-500A | Tomey RC-5000 | Nidek ARK-1e |
| Manufacturer | Nidek | Tomey | Nidek |
| Measurements | Refraction + keratometry | Refraction + keratometry | Refraction + keratometry |
| Format | Tabletop | Tabletop | Tabletop |
| Condition | Used | Used | Used |
| Price | $4,800 | $4,347 | $6,864 |
Need a lower-cost option for a second lane? The Topcon KR-8800 is also in stock. To add tonometry to the same instrument, see the Nidek Tonoref II.
Questions about the Nidek ARK-500A autorefractor keratometer? Contact us for availability and shipping details.
