The clinic is never dull, someone will always make you laugh! Today, I had one of my glaucoma patients come up to me with a genuine, but hilarious request. Doc, she said, I have no stinging, redness, blurred vision, or sensitivity to light. But, my eyedrops taste awful! Can you get me ones in a different flavour? Maybe like wine? Then I will never forget my eyedrops!!
Both of us laughed! This might sound strange, but sometimes people can actually taste their eye drops, and I thought it would be helpful to explain why.
Why Can I Taste My Eyedrops?
So, here’s the reason: You have a small drain in the corner of each eyelid near your nose. This drain helps tears flow down into your nose. That’s why your nose runs when you cry.
Sometimes, people complain that their tears keep running down their cheeks all day. That can be because this drainage system is blocked, and your tears can’t go anywhere else but down your cheeks. Sometimes, it happens because there’s mucus in your nose blocking the drain. This is pretty common during allergy season when you have a stuffy nose. Some nasal sprays that clear your nose can also help open up the tear drain, so your eyes don’t keep watering.
Now, let’s connect this to why you can taste your eye drops. When you put a big drop of medication in your eye, some of it goes into your eye like it’s supposed to. But the rest travels down the drainage channel into your nose. So, you either taste it in your nose or, if you tilt your head, it can run down the back of your throat, and you can taste it there. That’s the answer to why she was tasting her eye drops. Sometimes, the eyedrops may even make you gag!
How Do I NOT Taste My Eyedrops
Now, for the important part: how to stop tasting them. It’s actually quite easy. Feel the side of your nose, right by the corner of your eye. You’ll notice a small groove running down the side of your nose – that’s the path the tear drain follows from your eyelid to your nose. When you press against your nose in that spot, you close the drain. It’s similar to pinching the bridge of your nose.
Punctal Occlusion
To prevent tasting your eye drops, just press there as you put the drop in your eye. Keep the pressure on the side of your nose for about 30 seconds, close your eye, and let the medication soak into your eye where it’s supposed to go.
This is called punctal occlusion, and it prevents drainage of your eyedrops. After that, release the pressure, wipe your eye gently with a tissue, and none of the medication should go into your nose and throat where you can taste it.
Importance of Punctal Occlusion
Learning to do this when using your eye drops is not only helpful to avoid the bitter taste but also important for another reason. Some of the medications we use to treat your eyes can have side effects on your heart, lungs, blood pressure, and even your mood if too much of the medicine gets into your nose or throat.
While most people don’t absorb much of the medicine when using eye drops, some individuals can be sensitive even to small amounts. This is especially true when using eyedrops when you are pregnant. So, keeping the medication in your eye and out of your nose and throat is a smart move.
Some Eyedrops Do Taste Horrid
Some eyedrops do give a metallic taste in the mouth. Dorzolamide, an anti glaucoma medication is notorious for this side effect. In case its bothering you, talk to your doctor. You can both laugh about it, and she will then suggest an alternative! The alternative may not taste like bubble gum, but will definitely be an improvement! And together with punctal occlusion, you should be more comfortable!
