Medical history (history of the patient) represents an important component in the diagnosis of watery eye (epiphora).
Family history
- What is the general health of your relatives?
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 have you had watery eyes?
- Do the tears drip onto your cheek? (= real epiphora)
- Do the eyes tear on one or both sides?
- What other symptoms have you noticed?
- Itching?
- Purulent rhinitis?
- Runny nose or sneezing? (After contact with possible allergens?)
- Nosebleed?
- Pain, swelling, or redness near the inner corner of the eye?
- Headache? (position-dependent?)
- Nocturnal cough?
Vegetative anamnesis including nutritional anamnesis.
- Do you drink alcohol? If so, what beverage(s) and how many glasses of each per day?
- Do you use drugs? If yes, what drugs and how often per day or per week?
Self history incl. medication history.
- Pre-existing conditions (eye disease; diabetes mellitus).
- Surgery (eye, nasal or sinus surgery).
- Radiotherapy
- Vaccination status
- Allergies
Medication history
- Eye drops containing echothiophate, epinephrine or pilocarpine.
- Medications that can lead to dry eye syndrome (keratoconjunctivitis sicca)
Environmental history (including the subject of dry eyes and consequently reflex tears).
- Work on the computer screen (screen work)
- Intensive television
- Car fan
- Ozone, e.g. from copiers and printers
- Irritating chemicals
- Dry indoor air due tooverheated rooms, underfloor heating, air conditioning.
- Insufficient or incorrect lighting
- Environmental pollution (e.g. dust).
- Cigarette smoke
* If this question has been answered with “Yes”, an immediate visit to the doctor is required! (Data without guarantee)