Eye Problems, Noninjury: Preparing For Your Appointment

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Preparing For Your Appointment

To prepare for your appointment, see the topic Making the Most of Your Appointment.

You can help your doctor diagnose and treat your condition by being prepared to answer the following questions:

• What are your main symptoms? How long have you had your symptoms?
• Do your symptoms affect one or both eyes?
• Have you had this problem in the past? If so, do you know what caused the problem at that time? How was it treated?
• Do you wear contact lenses or eyeglasses? Do you think the problem is because of your contacts?
• Have you had any vision changes, pain in the eye, double vision, excessive tearing, or increased sensitivity to light?
• Have you had any exposure to toxic fumes, chemicals, or smoke?
• Does anyone in your family or at your workplace have an eye infection, such as drainage from the eye or red and swollen eyelids?
• Do you have allergies or are your eye symptoms occurring at certain times of the year?
• What home treatment measures have you tried? Did they help?
• What prescription or nonprescription medicines have you used? Did they help?
• Have you recently traveled outside the country?
• Do you smoke?
• Do you have any health risks?

Last updated:	December 06, 2007
Author:	Jan Nissl, RN, BS
Reviewed By:	William M. Green, MD - Emergency Medicine, Christopher J. Rudnisky, MD, FRCSC - Ophthalmology
Editors:	Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA, Tracy Landauer