History & Symptoms Flashcards
What are the Advantages of Electronic Patient Records?
1) Avoid problem of illegal record cards.
2) Information from previous test can be uploaded then amended with information from current examination.
3) Record can be linked to digital ocular photography and other equipment.
4) Referral letters easier to produce and print.
5) Reduce the likelihood of lost records which are common with paper records.
6) Alleviates bad handwriting
What are the Disadvantages of Electronic Patient Records?
1) Inability to sketch features if desired like a lesion, cataract, fluorescein staining patterns for example.
2) Different types of system require adaptation which can be difficult for locums.
3) Time consuming to scan in old record cards.
4) Fragmented nature of information means it can be difficult to highlight key details,
Case History
The first and most important element of an eye examination.
What elements should the Case History include?
1) General information
2) Last eye examination and Where
3) Reason for Visit (RFV)
4) Symptoms (Sxs)
5) Ocular history (OH)
6) General health (GH)
7) Family Ocular History (FOH)
8) Family Medical History (FMH/FGH)
9) Occupation, hobbies & Driving
GENERAL INFORMATION
- Date of Eye Examination
- Title – Mr/Mrs/Miss/Ms/Dr/Prof
- Surname
- Forenames
- Date of Birth – to calculate Age
- Address – including postcode
- Telephone No – home, work, mobile
- GP name & Address
- Previous Optometrist
General Observation of Px:
- Thin, ‘twitchy’
- Overweight, ruddy-faced
- Abnormal head position
- Facial Asymmetry
- Eyelids
- Eyes
- Overactive Thyroid = Hyperthyroidism
- Hypertension
- Binocular Visual Defect
- Congenital Anomalies
- Lesions, Ptosis, Epiphora
- Nystagmus, Strabismus
What other things should you pay attention to?
- Overall physical appearance
- Mobility
- Speech, intelligence and Emotional state.
What 3 factors can influence the prevalence of some ocular disorders?
- Age
- Gender
- Race
RFV
Establishes the Chief Complaint - CC
The examination should attend to this CC as a priority plus any secondary complaints that are mentioned.
What comprehensive approach is best to adopt when conducting H&S?
Problem-oriented Approach
Problem-oriented Approach allows you to _______
- Consider a list of Tentative Diagnoses
- Ask more questions and Probe at Differential Diagnosis
- Start by asking an Open-ended Question like:
“Do you have any problems with your vision or your eyes? - Obtain a full description of the CC using LOFTSEA.
What does
LOFTSEA
stand for?
L - Location | Laterality O - Onset F - Frequency and Occurrence T - Type and Severity S - Self-treatment and its Effectiveness E - Effect on you A - Associated and Secondary Sxs
Location | Laterality
If CC is Headache (H/A), Ask ______
If CC is Blurred Vision, Ask _______
If CC is Diplopia, Ask ________
“Where does it hurt?”
“Are both eyes affected?”
“Does this happen when you are looking in any particular direction?”
Onset
Ask __________
Ask __________
“When did this start happening?”
“Did it occur suddenly or gradually?”
Sudden Onset may indicate _______
Serious pathology
Long duration may indicate ________
Problem is not having a significant effect on patient due to lack of severity.
Frequency and Occurrence
Ask ___________
Ask ___________
“How often does this happen?”
“How long does this last?”
If the problem is of Visual Origin, then they tend to occur….
- When using eyes i.e. reading, watching TV, driving
- During weekdays more than weekends
- Starts in the middle of the day and gradually get worse
Type and Severity
If CC is H/A, Ask _________
If CC is Blurred Vision, Ask __________
If CC is Diplopia, Ask ___________
“Is it a throbbing/sharp or dull H/A?”
“Is the blur constant or intermittent?”
“Was the vision loss partial or total?”
“If the Double Vision one on top of the other or side by side?”
“Does the Double Vision disappear when one eye is closed?”
Self-treatment and its Effectiveness
Ask __________
Ask __________
“Does anything make it go away?”
“How well does this work?”
Medication
Note down:
Dosage
How frequently they took it
Effect on Patient
Ask __________
Ask __________
Ask __________
“Does this affect how well you can do certain things?”
“Have you been to see your GP about this?”
“Has this restricted your ability to drive?”
The responses to the “Effect on Px” section may….
dictate Patient management
Associated or Secondary Symptoms
Ask ___________
“Are you having any other difficulties?”
Symptoms
Some Sxs may already have emerged in the RFV.
However, ALL Patients should be Asked:
- DV and NV
- Asthenopia
- Headaches
- Pain or Burning
- Diplopia
- Flashes
- Floaters
What does Constant DV Blur
indicate?
Myopia
Nuclear Sclerosis
What does Intermittent DV Blur
indicate?
Young Diabetics
Pseudomyopes
What does Intermittent NV Blur
indicate?
Presbyopia
What does DV and NV Blur
indicate?
Astigmatism
Pathology
Asthenopia has 2 causes….
- Visual causes
2. Pathological causes
What are the Visual Causes for Asthenopia?
- Ametropia
- Accommodative Dysfunction
- Presbyopia
- Binocular Anomaly
- Poor illumination