You may need to use eye drops for short time, like for an eye infection or following surgery, or for a long time for chronic diseases like glaucoma or dry eye. In either case, it’s best to learn how to put eye drops yourself. Here’s are some tips and tricks which will make using eye drops easier.
Wash your hands
Make sure your hands are clean. Wash your hands with soap and water. You can air dry them, or wipe them dry with a clean towel.
No contact lenses
Take off your contact lenses before using eye drops. This rule holds true for all eye drops. The only exception to this rule are preservative free lubricating drops, especially prescribed for use with contact lenses.
Sit down, or lie down
It is really difficult to use eye drops on the go. You can choose to lie down when you put eye drops. You will find it easier initially, if you sit in front of a mirror to put eye drops.
Do not touch the tip of the bottle when you put eye drops
Open the bottle. Make sure you do not touch the underside of the cap, and put it away. Also, do not touch the tip of the bottle since it is sterile.
Tilt your head or lie down
Tilt your head, or lie down. Look up, and keep your eyes open, and look up.
Pull down your lower lid
Use a folded tissue paper in case you are using prostaglandin drops for glaucoma. You may use this facial tissue to wipe off any excess medicine that trickles out of your eye. It is especially recommended for prostaglandin analogs since they can cause pigmentation of your skin.
Alternatively, you may use one finger to pull down your eye lid, making a “pocket” with your lower lid.
Hold the bottle about an inch away from your face
If you are sitting, you may stabilize your hands on a table or any other firm surface. If lying down, steady your hands on your forehead. Bring the bottle close to your eye, and make sure your eye is wide open.
Make sure the tip/ bottle does not touch your eye or eyelashes when you put the drops, since this can introduce germs in the bottle.
Squeeze gently
Squeeze the bottle gently, aiming to put the eye drop inside the lower lid “pocket”. Wipe off the excess.
Close your eyes
Gently close your eyes once you’ve put the drops. Try not to blink for a minute.
Punctal occlusion
This technique minimizes systemic absorption of drugs. Which means, there is less drug in your blood stream, and therefore, less side effects.
Gently press at the inner corner of your eye, with your index finger. Count to ten. Remember your tears drain into the nose and throat via the duct located at the inner corner of your eye. When you close this duct, the eye drops remain on the surface of the eye, where they are needed.
Replace the bottle cap
Replace the cap once you are done. Do not touch its undersurface or the tip of the bottle. Put away your eye drops in a cool, safe place, away from sunlight and the reach of children. Certain eye drops like latanoprost may require refrigeration, so make sure you ask your doctor about storage instructions.
Special Situations
More than one eye drop
Sometimes, you may need to use multiple drops. Do not use the eye drops one after the other, In fact, doctors recommend that you must wait for a minimum of five minutes between eye drops.
If you don’t, the second medicine will invariably wash out the first one, decreasing its effectiveness.
Using lubricating eye drops
In case you have been prescribed a lubricating eye drop in addition to another medicine, heres what you need to remember. Put the medication first, and then put the lubricating eye drop. Make sure you wait for at least five minutes before doing that.
When you can’t get it right
If you are struggling with putting eye drops, make sure you get a bottle of preservative free lubricating eye drops. Practice putting these in the eye till you are comfortable.
If you can’t squeeze the bottle, because of arthritic fingers, or because the bottle is too hard for you, talk to your doctor. She may help you find a special applicator, or a bottle that is easier to squeeze.
When you forget your eye drops
If you forget to use your eye drops often, or in case you need them to use continuously as in glaucoma, set an alarm. There are several apps that serve as eye drop reminders, and you can key in your prescription. Alternatively, you set a recurrent alarm on your phone.
If you’ve forgotten to put your eye drops, put them when you remember. Then, go back to your original schedule. For example, let’s say you forgot your bedtime travoprost and only remembered it in the morning. Put a drop when you remember, but do put it again that night as well.
