Methods and systems are disclosed for optimizing refractive prescriptions of human eyes. First, objective refraction devices such as aberrometers and auto-refractors will not only provide an objective estimate of sphero-cylinder correction, but also a quality metrics for at least one of a) measuring the confidence level in the objectively determined cylinder power and cylinder axis in addition to the objective sphero-cylinder correction, b) assessing/displaying quality of vision corrections for a plurality of cylinder power. Second, the quality metrics will be used to elect one of a plurality of modes of subjective refraction with a phoropter: 1) one mode for the subjective determination of spherical power only, 2) another mode for subjective determination of both sphere power and cylinder power.