Medical history (history of the patient) represents an important component in the diagnosis of increasing visual impairment.
Family history
- What is the general health of your relatives?
- Are there any diseases in your family that are common?
- Are there any hereditary diseases in your family?
Social history
- What is your profession?
- Are you exposed to harmful working substances in your profession?
Current medical history/systemic medical history (somatic and psychological complaints).
- How long has the visual disturbance been present?
- Has the visual impairment developed slowly?
- Are both eyes affected?
- Have you noticed any other symptoms such as blurred vision, neurological disorders such as paralysis or sensory disturbances?
Vegetative anamnesis including nutritional anamnesis.
- Do you smoke? If yes, how many cigarettes, cigars or pipes per day?
- Do you drink alcohol? If yes, what drink(s) and how many glasses per day?
Self history incl. medication history.
- Pre-existing conditions (diabetes mellitus, hypertension, eye disease, neurological disease).
- Surgeries (eye surgery, neurosurgical operations).
- Radiotherapy
- Vaccination status
- Allergies
- Pregnancies
- Environmental history (arsenic, quinine,carbon disulfide,methanol,tobacco (smoking)).
- Drug history
