When taking a case history, you've been taught to start with a chief complaint and then thoroughly investigate further through asking questions about the history of present illness (or HPI).
The following article summarizes seven strategies you can share with your patients to help combat digital eye strain.
After running through these, I also ask every patient a few additional follow-up questions to make sure I completely understand their visual needs and issues. These include "What is your occupation?" and "How many hours a day are you at the computer?"
I also go a little further to ask "Do you notice any fatigue, eyestrain, or headaches during work?" and "What do you do to help alleviate these symptoms?"
You'll find that a lot of people may not directly come out and offer this information before you start asking about it. They think it's completely normal and something that just goes with spending extended periods of time on digital devices.
The researchers suggest a seven-point strategy clinicians can use to help patients combat this:
1. Correct any underlying refractive errors.
2. Address any vergence anomalies.
3. Initiate blink rate training.
4. Employ artificial tears to help alleviate dry eye symptoms.
5. Use contact lenses with enhanced comfort, particularly at the end of day and in environments that can exacerbate dryness.
6. Consider blue light-absorbing color filters.
7. Manage any accomodative anomalies.
