ABSTRACT
This chapter looks at ocular history taking and procedures used in emergency-care settings, including examination of the eye. Taking an accurate ocular history is a crucial part of the examination of a patient with an ocular problem and helps the clinician to perform the appropriate investigation, rule out differential diagnoses and arrive at an accurate ophthalmic diagnosis. Good history taking also eliminates the need to perform unnecessary investigations and allows the clinician to focus on relevant and pertinent clinical examination. Accurate history taking is essential for correct diagnosis and treatment planning. Staff must be knowledgeable and skilled in these procedures. Obtaining maximum data from GPs and optometrists and cross-checking with patient data improves quality and decreases risk. Documentation must be accurate, legible and thorough to ensure a robust assessment process. Slit-lamp examination is important to practise and familiarise nurses with the controls of the slit lamp.
