Frequently Asked Questions
Are there license renewal fees?
eChart Acuity licenses are perpetual. There are no annual or renewal fees.
Do you have referrals?
Yes. Check out our Testimonials page
What does the demonstration program provide?
The demonstration program is a fully operating version of eChart Acuity with limited run time for your testing. When you purchase eChart Acuity we register the program on your computer and you are ready to go. You can use the demonstration program for testing patients.
Do I have to use a remote control to run the program? Is a remote available if I prefer?
We do not require that you purchase a proprietary hand-held remote control. Most users find that our simple, easy to remember quick-key shortcuts work very well, using either your existing wired keyboard, or an easy to find wireless keyboard. For those who prefer a hand-held remote, we can provide a fully integrated remote to use with eChart Acuity. Contact sales for additional information. sales@echartacuity.com
Can I use eChart Acuity in a room that is 12 feet long without a mirror?
eChart can be calibrated at just about any distance from 1 foot to 40
feet. However, from a clinical standpoint, the longer the optical
testing distance, the more representative your refraction will be to the
patients distance visual needs outside of your office.
At least some doctors have recommended 4 meters (13.12 feet) as the
optimum distance for refraction. This distance corresponds to a 0.25
diopter accommodative distance, so in theory, your final distance
prescription will be 0.25 diopters more minus (or less plus) than your
subjective refraction. Any distance less than that is not recommended.
Can I use eChart for Low Vision refractions and evaluations? How should it be calibrated in this case?
eChart is ideal for a low vision evaluation. Traditional low vision
charts such as the Feinbloom chart only have a few letters (sometimes
only a single letter) for any given acuity size. eChart gives you the
freedom of random letter presentation for more accurate refractions and
acuity determinations.
For calibration purposes, we recommend calibrating the system for a 20
foot distance. The patient is then positioned at an appropriate testing
distance i.e. 4 feet, and acuity measurements are noted with the test
distance on the top and the size of the letter on the bottom, such as
5/100 for a 20/100 letter that the patient can read at 5 feet.
I have multiple exam rooms. Does my license allow me to use the software in each lane?
eChart Acuity is licensed on a “per machine” basis. That is, the license is tied directly to the computer that the program is installed on. The registration key that we provide is related to the serial number of the computer’s hard drive. This allows us to provide some level of protection for our intellectual property without having to manufacture, purchase, or ship additional hardware such as a hardlock key or a CD ROM key. Additional licenses for a given clinic location are available at a discounted rate.
Why do the letters and numbers have a jagged appearance?
The short answer is “You’re too close.” The slightly longer answer
is…
In computer graphics, each point on the screen is called a pixel. When
your screen is set to high resolution, the pixels are smaller, and
curves appear sharper than the same image at low resolution. A
comparison can be made to a mosaic art piece, which is made up of small
squares placed to form an image. If you get close to the mosaic, you see
the individual tiles, and see that what forms a smooth image from a
distance, is actually a collection of jagged pieces. The key point is to
be far enough away from the image so that you cannot see the individual
tiles, or in the case of eChart, the individual pixels on the screen.
For almost every current computer monitor, resolution of 1024x768 or
better is possible, and recommended. At a testing distance of more than
10 feet, the patient will be unable to see the individual pixels and
will not see jagged lines that you might be able to see if you are
sitting right in front of the monitor.
Further, eChart acuity uses “vector graphics” which basically means that
every letter and number is displayed to the highest quality possible for
any given monitor, regardless of the size of the letter being displayed.
When I try to use the quick-key shortcuts, nothing happens. Why not?
This happens if the pull-down menu is active. You have the choice of using either the pull-down system or quick-keys, but only one system is active at a time. Pressing the [escape] key alternately displays or hides the pull-down menu. If the pull down menu is active, it will be displayed along the upper edge of the screen. To hide the menu and activate quick-key control, you may either press [escape], click on "Hide Menu", or click on the [X] in the upper left corner of the menu. This last method hides the menu, but does not close the program.
When I try to use the quick-key shortcuts, the display shows the letter of the key that I press. Why?
You probably have [Caps Lock] on. Quick-keys are, by design, lower case letters. Capital letters display the actual letter on the display.
What screen size is best?
We recommend at least a 17 inch LCD Monitor for most exam rooms, however eChart Acuity will work with any size monitor. The important consideration is the larger the screen, the more letters can be displayed on the screen at a given time. If you have a shorter optical distance, a smaller screen may be acceptable. If you have an optical testing distance much more than 20 feet, you will appreciate the benefit of a larger screen such as 19 or 21 inch LCD. eChart acuity can work with older CRT monitors, but LCD’s are strongly recommended.
What is cost for ongoing support?
We provide unlimited support for the first three months after your purchase. Beyond that, email support is provided free for simple issues. Phone support is provided at $80 per hour (1/2 hour minimum), but this fee can be applied toward the purchase of an additional license if it ends up that your computer is no longer capable of running the program.
Can I run other programs at the same time?
Yes. eChart can run concurrently with any other programs such as practice management, EHR, retinal imaging, or topography. If you only have a single monitor, or you use two monitors connected with a simple “Y” adapter, you can switch between monitors using [Alt]+[Tab] switching. A more flexible approach is to use a dual monitor setup, where a second graphics card is installed which allows you to use the Windows desktop across the two monitors. eChart is then displayed on the second monitor for patient testing, and the primary monitor remains on your desk. This also helps minimize the chance that the patient will see protected medical information that may be displayed on your computer.
Can I connect two monitors to the same computer?
Yes, there are two basic approaches to accomplishing this. First, you can use a simple “Y” cable to run two monitors from the same output. This results in the same display on both monitors, and is acceptable in some instances. Alternately, you can take advantage of Windows extended desktop by adding a second graphics adapter to your computer. This allows you to have two different displays. Typically, the patient display is shown on the second monitor, and the primary monitor is used for your other tasks.
Can the letters on the monitor be REVERSED since my exam rooms use a single mirrored system?
Yes, the Letters on eChart Acuity can easily be reversed to accommodate a folded (mirrored) room.
Can the size of the letters be adjusted?
Using the <+> and <-> keys, you can increase or decrease the size of letters during the exam. You can also use the numeric keyboard to type in the Snellen denominator directly.
Can the contrast/sensitivity be adjusted?
Yes. eChart acuity allows you to change contrast from 100% (black on white) to 5, 10, 20, 30, 40, or 50% (gray on white).
Why don't I see eChart Acuity at the trade shows?
