M.Sc. (Optometry) / The difference between objective automatic and subjective clinical refraction is studied using new statistical techniques. The question, by how much the two refraction techniques differ, is investigated by subtracting the subjective refraction finding from the auto refractory finding and then examining the distribution of the difference or excess as it will be called here. Computerized procedures were developed to automate mathematical and statistical methods of analysis. The methods were applied to two different samples: one of patients visiting an ordinary optometric practice (the clinical sample) and the other of children refracted in a screening program (the sample of school children) . The clinical sample, consisting of mainly older patients, is examined first. The difference between the autorefractor and subjective findings is studied and described. This difference could be used to compare different types of auto refractors assuming that the subjective refraction is correct. For the purpose of this study, however, the results of eight autorefractors are grouped together, combining left and right eyes, to serve as basis for studying the older population. The study shows that on the average there is no clinically significant excess. This means that there is on average no clinically significant difference between the automatic and clinical refraction for this population.