"Hello, I’m [Your Name], one of the doctors/nurses. I understand you've come in today to discuss a problem with your eye(s). Is that right?"
"Before we go any further, what are your thoughts about what might be causing this eye problem, or what it might mean?"
"And is there anything in particular that you're worried about, or anything you were hoping we could achieve during our conversation today?"
"Could you please tell me more about the main problem you're experiencing with your eye(s)? Is it a visual disturbance, redness, pain, grittiness, dryness, itching, sensitivity to light, or swelling?"
"Is it affecting one eye or both? Which one?"
"How did this problem start? Was it sudden or gradual? And how long has it been going on? Is it constant, or does it come and go?"
"Have you noticed any other eye-related symptoms along with it? Such as blurring of vision, any loss of vision, a red eye, discharge (what does it look like?), dryness, itching, sensitivity to light (photophobia), or any swelling or tenderness around the eye?"
"I also need to ask about some important 'red flag' symptoms. Are you experiencing severe eye pain, especially if it's accompanied by reduced vision or a very red eye? Has there been a sudden and persistent change in your vision, whether it's painful or not? Do you have true photophobia, meaning light causes severe pain, not just a general sensitivity? Is one eye persistently red without obvious cause? Are you seeing double vision that doesn't go away when you cover one eye? Have you had a sudden onset of new floaters or flashing lights, or noticed a black curtain coming across your vision? Have you had any recent trauma to your eye, or any recent eye surgery?"
"Could you tell me more about your visual disturbance? When did it start, and did it come on suddenly or gradually? Is it something that happens sometimes (episodic) or is it continuous? Does anything make it better or worse?"
"Does it affect your distance vision, your near vision, or both?"
"Does the visual disturbance only affect a specific part of your vision, like the very centre, or the edges (peripheral vision)?"
"Are you experiencing any double vision? If so, do you see images side-by-side, one on top of the other, or at an oblique angle? Does the double vision disappear if you cover one eye?"
"Have you had any other visual phenomena, like flashing lights (photopsia), or new floaters (small specks or lines floating in your vision)? Have you noticed a black curtain coming across your field of vision, or glare from lights, or halos around lights? What about any transient loss of vision in one eye?"
"Do you see any visual distortions, where straight lines appear wavy (metamorphopsia), or do you see shimmering lights (scintillations)?"
"Could you describe the eye pain for me? Where exactly is the pain located – is it in the eye itself, around the eye, or behind the eye?"
"When did the pain start, and was it sudden or gradual?"
"How would you describe the character of the pain? Is it sharp, dull, aching, throbbing, a gritty feeling, or burning?"
"Does the pain spread anywhere else, such as to your temple, jaw, or forehead?"
"Are there any other symptoms associated with the eye pain, like nausea, vomiting, a headache, light sensitivity (photophobia), redness of the eye, or reduced vision?"
"Is the pain constant, or does it come and go? Has it been getting worse, better, or staying the same?"
"What makes the pain better or worse? Does moving your eye aggravate it? Does light make it worse? What about touching your eye, or taking painkillers?"
"On a scale of 1 to 10, how severe is your eye pain?"
"Regarding your eye injury, were you wearing any eye protection at the time?"
"What caused the injury? Was it a chemical splash, a blunt object, a sharp object, or did something fly into your eye?"
"If something flew into your eye, can you tell me about the object? What size was it, how fast was it moving, and what was it made of (e.g., a metal fragment, a piece of wood, dust)?"
"What symptoms did you experience immediately after the trauma? Did you have pain, changes in vision, redness, excessive tearing, discharge, or sensitivity to light?"
"Are you experiencing any other symptoms anywhere else in your body? For example, joint pain, a skin rash, dry mouth or eyes, any new weakness or numbness, headaches, or sinus pain? Do you have any fever?"
"Have you had any previous episodes similar to this one before, such as recurrent conjunctivitis, styes, or inflammation inside the eye (uveitis)?"
"Do you have any known previous eye problems or diagnoses, such as glaucoma, cataracts, macular degeneration, a 'lazy eye' (amblyopia), diabetic retinopathy, or inflammation of the optic nerve (optic neuritis)?"
"Have you ever had any eye trauma in the past?"
"Have you undergone any eye surgery?"
"Do you use prescription glasses? Are they for distance vision, near vision, or both? When was your last eye test?"
"Do you wear contact lenses? What type are they (e.g., daily disposables, monthly lenses)? How do you clean and store them, and do you ever wear them while sleeping, showering, or swimming?"
"Do you have any existing medical conditions? I'm particularly interested in conditions that can be associated with eye problems, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, or inflammatory bowel disease, thyroid disease, neurological conditions like multiple sclerosis, cardiovascular disease, or any history of cancer."
"Have you ever had any other operations or procedures, not necessarily on your eyes?"
"Are you currently taking any medications, including anything prescribed by a doctor, or any over-the-counter medicines, supplements, or herbal remedies? This includes any eye drops you might be using – what type, how often, and for how long have you been using them? Some medications, like steroids, amiodarone, tamoxifen, sildenafil, or ethambutol, can sometimes affect the eyes."
"Do you have any allergies to medications or anything else, especially to eye drops? If so, what kind of reaction did you have?"
"Does anyone in your close family have a history of similar eye complaints, or a formal diagnosis of eye disease like glaucoma, macular degeneration, or retinoblastoma? What about conditions that are strongly associated with eye disease, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, or rheumatological diseases?"
"Could you tell me a little about your living situation and who you live with? Do you have a good support network around you? Are you able to manage all your daily activities independently?"
"How about your lifestyle? Do you smoke, and if so, how much? How much alcohol do you drink in a week? Do you use any recreational drugs?"
"What kind of work do you do, and are there any occupational hazards for eye injury in your workplace, such as welding, chemical exposure, or carpentry?"
"Regarding driving, if you have significant visual impairment or any other concerning symptoms that might affect your driving (like symptoms of a mini-stroke), I would strongly advise you not to drive until you have been fully investigated and cleared by a medical professional or the DVLA."