The invention pertains to a refractometer (01) for determining the refraction properties of an eye (02) of a patient with an optical projection device (03) that comprises at least one light source (08) that produces a light pattern, wherein the light pattern of the projection device (03) can be projected on the retina of the eye (02) and focused thereon, with an optical viewing device (04) that comprises at least one photoelectric sensor (12), wherein the light pattern reflected on the retina of the eye (02) can be viewed through the cornea and the lens of the eye with the viewing device (4) and projected on the photoelectric sensor (12) in the form of an image pattern, with an evaluation device for evaluating the image pattern recorded by the photoelectric sensor (12) and deriving the refraction properties of the eye, and with a distance measuring device for determining the distance between the refractometer (01) and the patient. The distance measuring device (16, 17) makes it possible to measure the distance between the refractometer (01) and the eye (02).