Many people use eye drops for a variety of reasons. They are used for glaucoma, dry eye, eye infections (such as the pink eye), or even allergies. To get the full benefits from the use of your eye drops you should be putting them incorrectly. At Boston Eye Group we deal with patients all the time who have trouble putting eye drops in. Your ophthalmologist will go over how to insert eye drops with you. Read on for easy-to-follow steps for inserting your eye drops.
Preparation
You should always make sure to wash your hands before inserting eye drops or even touching your eyes. Germs and bacteria can cause infection or worsen an existing eye condition. Also, be sure to remove your contact lenses unless otherwise instructed by your eye doctor. Once your eyes are ready, shake the bottle of eye drops vigorously then remove the cap. Do not touch the tip of the dropper.
Inserting Eye Drops
Option 1
For an easy way to put your eye drops in, tilt your head back and lookup. Many people find it beneficial to find one point to focus on. Use one hand to slightly pull the lower eyelid downward, this helps to create a pocket to catch the drop. Hold the dropper directly over the pocket and squeeze gently. Make sure to not touch the bottle directly to your eye or eyelid this could cause contamination.
Option 2
Hold the bottle sideways and place the center of the bottle over the bridge of your nose. This results in the tip of the bottle being over your eye. Look directly up at the ceiling and squeeze. This will result in the drop falling directly over the center of your eye.
After Inserting the Eye Drops
Once the drops are in, close your eyes. It is important to not blink. Apply gentle pressure to your tear ducts. This allows the drops to be absorbed by the eyes. Once this is done, wash your hands after touching the medication and your face.
If you have any trouble inserting eye drops, contact the Boston Laser Group for a solution.