ABSTRACT
IS THE PATIENT’S VISION AT RISK? ■ Immediate intervention for the following conditions can save
vision: ▲ Acute angle-closure glaucoma ▲ Giant cell arteritis causing either
• Anterior ischemic optic neuropathy or • Central retinal artery occlusion
▲ Nonarteritic central retinal artery occlusion ▲ Endophthalmitis ▲ Corneal ulcer and/or infectious keratitis ▲ Retinal detachment
ADDRESSING THE RISK ■ For any ocular or visual complaint
▲ Measure visual acuity in each eye. Use distance or near chart, and test each eye separately, with patient wearing his or her usual glasses if available. • Has visual acuity changed from previously? By patient
history? By previous and current examination? • Check the eye history for previous documented visual
acuity. ▲ Is the complaint acute or chronic, unilateral or bilateral? ▲ Does the patient have a systemic disorder that could be
related to the visual problem, e.g., hypertension, diabetes mellitus, hypercoagulable state, rheumatoid arthritis, other autoimmune disease?
