In retinoscopy, neutrality is achieved when the reflex shows what movement?

• A. No movement
• B. With movement
• C. Against movement
• D. Intermittent movement

Answer: (A)

In retinoscopy, neutrality means the reflex is stationary as you move the retinoscope. This happens when the eye’s refractive error is exactly balanced by the working distance, so the emergent rays from the retina are neither converging nor diverging relative to the retinoscope plane. When you see no movement, you’ve reached the neutral point, and that lens power is the one you’d use to neutralize the patient’s refractive error for that distance. If there’s movement, the reflex is not neutral yet—you’re either too hyperopic/low myopic or too myopic for the current lens, so you adjust the lens until the reflex stops moving. Intermittent movement would suggest fixation or alignment issues rather than true neutrality.