When collecting case history regarding reading material for a patient who uses a computer, which items are appropriate to ask about?

• A. Type of computer, screen size, computer glasses, accessibility features used, keyboarding skills, amount of time spent on the computer, and type of reading and lighting material used
• B. Favorite foods, exercise routine, and sleep quality
• C. Hair color, preferred music genre, and vacation history
• D. Brand of coffee and preferred programming language

Answer: (A)

When gathering a case history about reading material for a patient who uses a computer, you’re focusing on how they interact with text across digital and printed formats, the devices and display settings they rely on, and their reading environment. Knowing the type of computer and screen size helps tailor font size, contrast, and glare management, while computer glasses address the specific working distance and optical demands of sustained screen viewing. Accessibility features used—such as magnification, high-contrast modes, screen readers, or zoom—directly influence how reading tasks are performed and guide which assistive technologies might be most helpful. Keyboarding skills inform navigation, text input, and overall endurance during reading and related activities. The amount of time spent on the computer indicates potential visual fatigue, dry-eye risk, and the need for breaks or ocular lubrication strategies. Finally, the type of reading and lighting material used reveals content complexity, print size, and lighting conditions, which affect reading comfort and what adjustments to lighting and display settings may be needed.

The other options include personal attributes or preferences (foods, exercise, sleep; hair color, music, vacations) that don’t inform reading performance or vision rehabilitation planning for someone who reads on a computer, so they’re not useful for shaping the case history in this context.