3. Presentation layout
Introduction to history taking
Key principles of history taking
Purpose of history taking
Components of history taking
Importance of history taking
Experts view
4. What is history taking?
Asking questions with the patients to obtain
information regarding their concerned problem
and aid in diagnosis.
It is estimated that 80% of diagnosis are based
on history taking alone.
It helps in gathering data both objective and
subjective for
i. Generating differential diagnosis
ii. Evaluating progress following a specific
treatment or procedure.
iii. Evaluating change in the patient’s condition or
5. Keys principles of history
taking
History must be taken in a non judgmental,
sensitive and simple manner.
Ensure the patient is as comfortable as
possible.
Maintain good communication with the
patient in order to elicit proper history and to
be accurately able to recognize their
problems.
Listen to what the patient says.
6. Summarize each stage of the history
process.
Involve the patient in the history taking
process.
Ensure that your documentation is clear,
accurate and legible.
Must avoid interrupting, commanding and
lecturing while taking history.
Honest advice and opinion must always be
provided.
“Always listen to the
patients they might be
telling you the diagnosis.”
7. Purpose of history taking
To gather relevant
information.
To rule out any
contraindication for contact
lens wear.
To understand the level of
motivation.
To understand the purpose
of contact lens wear.
To determine a potential
contact lens candidate.
To influence our diagnosis
and treatment decisions.
8. Components of history taking
The system of history taking is based on
problem oriented medical record system.
Consists of four basic components.
1. Defined data base:
It should include a problem oriented
history, tests of eye health, refraction and
binocular vision that are appropriate for
the patient’s age group.
It also includes:
10. 2. Complete problem list:
It defines a problem as anything that
requires management or diagnostic
workup.
It includes social, psychological and
demographic problems.
3. Initial treatment plan:
Made on the basis of the complete problem
list.
Helps to get more information concerning
diagnostic workup and management.
Provide specific plans for each diagnostic
11. 4. Progress report:
Concerned with a single problem.
Helps in the formulation of additional plans that
will be evaluated at the additional progress
visits.
While fitting contact lens, progress note can
give direction to the procedures performed at
the previous visits following advice and
instruction given to the patients.
Worthy point:
Progress notes are of great value
for vision training patients and for
keeping tract of low-vision
patients progress in adapting to
their aids.
12. 1.Demographic data or patient
profile
Name (for identification, filing system,
friendly)
Age (age related diseases –child: congenital
diseases, old: senile diseases)
Address (endemic diseases, social status)
Gender ( sex related diseases)
Marital status
Religion
Phone number
13. 2.Ocular health
Ocular conditions:
Eye injuries
Lid abnormalities
Red eye
dry eye
conjunctivities
Pterygium and pinguicula
Blepharities
Keratoconus
Ocular medication :
Oral, topical or systemic
14. 3. Previous ocular history
Ask about previous ophthalmological problems
including
Poor vision since birth or during childhood
Refractive errors
History of lazy eye (i.e. amblyopia)
Recurrent ocular problems such as
inflammatory (iritis) and herpes simplex
keratitis.
Problems associated with contact lens wear
(e.g. bacterial keratitis).
15. Recent cataract surgery (to look for
complication of surgery such as
endophthalmitis, wound infection, intraocular
lens displacement causing a sudden drop in
visual acuity).
Past or recent refractive/corrective eye
surgery.
Previous history of trauma to the eye
(associated with cataract, glaucoma, retinal
detachment).
16. 4.Medical history or general
health
A. Allergies (seasonal or chronic):
Inquire if patients have known allergy to –
Hay fever, any medications, foods or any other
substances.
Exacerbated by contact lens and preserved
solutions.
Symptoms are redness, discomfort(dirty, gritty,
itchy) and lid problems.
Look for the possible causes and treat before
contact lens wear.
17. Close monitoring of patients for their
symptoms.
Note:
The allergic patient is more susceptible to
adverse reactions to contact lenses and their
maintenance products.
18. B. Sinusitis:
Inflammation in paranasal sinus.
Can be fitted with frequent after care.
Prone to discomfort and excessive
tearing.
19. C. Diabetes:
Metabolic disorder in which carbohydrate
utilization in the body is reduced and lipid
protein enhanced.
Decrease contrast sensitivity
Diabetic cornea may have SPK, recurrent
corneal erosions, persistent epithelial
defects, neurotrophic ulcers, stress,
delayed healing e.t.c.
Not candidates for extended wear contact
lens use.
20. D. Pregnancy and menopause:
Metabolic processes of cornea affected by
hormonal and systemic changes.
Estrogen and progesterone level increases which
causes salt and water retention that swells the
cornea.
Reduction in tear volume, lacrimation and TBUT.
Shift towards myopia
Minor reduction in amplitude of accommodation,
NPC and AC/A ratio.
Low incidence of melanin deposits.
21. Pregnant women with water retention may be
intolerant of a contact lens.
In general, some patients in menopause may
present significant changes in the quality and
quantity of the lacrimal tear film that may cause
contact lens intolerance.
New patients are best fitted after pregnancy.
22. E. Arthritis:
Ocular manifestation – Reiter’s disease,
ankylosis spondylitis, juvenile chronic
arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis(RA).
Changes in the anterior segment
should be monitored.
RA makes difficulty in fitting
contact lens.
Frequent after care is necessary.
23. F. Chronic respiratory diseases:
May have difficulty in fitting a contact lens.
During respiratory crises they may have
conjunctival hyperemia, tearing, light
sensitivity and generalized discomfort that
is aggravated by the use of contact lens.
24. G. Thyroid function imbalance:
Disturbs BMR of the body.
Ocular complication- exophthalmic goiter
(Grave disease), lagophthalmos, Bell’s
phenomenon, dry eye e.t.c.
Not suitable candidate for contact lens
wear.
25. H. Convulsions and epilepsy
I. Psychiatric patients
J. Other systemic diseases where an
anterior segment of the eye can be
involved or problems with the immune
system (AIDS, tuberculosis, herpes
infection, myasthenia gravis, Sjogrens
syndrome, lupus).
26. 5. Systemic and topical
medication
Most common medication that can affect the
quantity and quality of tear film are:
Oral contraceptics
Antihistamines
Antidepressants
Immunosuppressant(e.g. prednisone)
Beta-blockers and holinoblockers
diuretics
Long term use of tropical medications such
as corticosteroids.
28. Therefore history of medication play crucial role
before contact lens fitting.
Drugs Ocular side effects
Amiodarone Corneal deposits(vortex
keratopathy)
Antiepileptics Ocular motility dysfunction
Trihexyphenidyl,
benztropine, atropine
Pupillary dilatation
Opiates Pupillary constriction
Sulphonamides, NSAIDS Steven-Johnson syndrome
29. 6. Family history
Enquire if there’s family history of any of
these:
a. Systemic diseases- HTN, thyroid, diabetes,
chronic kidney diseases(CKD), heart diseases,
chronic respiratory diseases, genetic and
hereditary diseases e.t.c.
b. Ocular diseases/condition:
o Glaucoma
o Cataracts
o Squint
o Poor vision
30. Refractive errors
Ocular albinism and oculocutaneous albinism
Juvenile macular dystrophies
Retinal/corneal dystrophies and retinal
detachment
c. Use of contact lens in family:
Ask awareness and motivation for contact
lens
31. 7.Social history
It includes:
i. Occupation:
Knowing a patient’s occupation is relevant
Helps to find out occupation related diseases
and visual need accordingly.
32. Practitioner can ask questions like
Do they work on a computer, desk work or
driving?
Do they read?
Are they at risk of eye injury?
33. ii. Lifestyles:
Drink alcohol
Smoking habits
Use recreational drugs
Luxury and sedentary lifestyles
Hard worker or labors
Home circumstances
35. 8. Motivation and expectation
Patients are thoroughly asked about the
source of motivation for fitting contact lens.
Contact lens may perform differently from
the patient expectation.
It is the responsibility of the practitioner
to explain the benefits and limitations of
the lens being prescribed.
36. History of contact lens use
If the patient had used contact lens before
then patient is asked about:
Duration of contact lens used
Contact lens type
Wearing schedule
Care system used
Satisfaction with vision and comfort
37. Contd…
Average wearing time (hours/day) or (days/week)
Contact lens wear in front of computer
Lens replacement schedule (if disposable or
planned replacement)
Disinfection regimen
Reason for changing the type of contact lens or
discontinuation of use in the past
Previous contact lens or solution related
38. Reason for using contact lens
Full time vision
Sports and recreational activities
Social events only
Changing eye color
Avoiding use of reading glasses (i.e.
inconvenience of glasses)
High Rx and myopia control
Keratoconus
Aphakia and anisometropia
39. Importance of history taking
A good history commonly leads to a diagnosis.
A good history may provide indications and
contraindication for contact lens wear.
Helps to identify the type or design of contact lens
which may be suitable for patient.
Helps you focus your examination.
Indicates when/what investigation are needed.
Helps determine the functional impact of the
condition.
40. Summary of history taking
Complete your history by reviewing what
the patient has told you.
Repeat back the important points so that
the patients can correct you if there are any
misunderstandings or errors.
Practitioner should also address what the
patient thinks is wrong with them and what
they are expecting/hoping for from the
consultation.
41. Expert view
“A patient’s history is one of the most powerful
tools an optometrist has. Before we correct
vision..,
we need to take a thorough history to determine
What else may be contributing to a patient’s
vision
Loss.”
-Dr. Donald J. Siegel, O.D.
42. “It’s important to ask patients what
they want, need and expect from
contact lenses…. If the patient failed
with contact lenses in the past, why
did that happen? And why does
he/she want to try again? These
answers help evaluate the patient as
a candidate, and they help the doctor
choose lenses and solutions.”
- Don R. Smith, N.C.L.E
certified
Editor's Notes
Besides this it also include the level of motivatation and expectation
Hyiegene and responsibility
Infection is constantly maintained at a baseline level in a geographical level without external inputs-endemic diseases
Senile diseases-dementia and alzheimer diseases
Patient is investigated about fresh ocular complains if any such as……
Neurotrophic disease-degenerative diseases of cornea caused by damage of the trigeminal nerve