Taking a Good Ocular History
History of Present Illness
- Duration, onset, and timing of visual or eye symptoms
- Presence of pain, and if yes, describe severity and quality
- Duration of symptoms: constant or intermittent Ophthalmology
- History of similar presentation.“Has this happened to you before?”
- Ocular symptoms: flashes, floaters, curtain, or veils coming down in your field of vision
- Associated systemic symptoms: nausea, vomiting, fever, chills, headache, neuro deficits
Past Ocular History
- Do you wear glasses? For distance or reading or both? Contact lenses?
- When was the last time you saw an eye doctor?
- History of eye surgeries
- History of any other eye conditions: cataracts, glaucoma, macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy
Family History: family history of any eye diseases as above
Social History: tobacco, alcohol, or other illicit drugs