A system and method for conducting a refractive examination of an eye of a patient, has a communication device with a communication module that connects to the internet, a processor that is programmed to connect to a remote computer via the communication module and which has a display screen, a microphone and a speaker. The remote computer has a data storage device that stores images of eye charts. The communication device is mounted in a virtual reality headset configured to be worn by the patient and has at least one screen through which the display screen of the communication device is viewable. The communication device displays images in the form of the eye charts to the patient, who communicates through the communication to a remote examiner who conducts the refractive examination using multiple different eye charts to determine the prescription of the patient.