Using eye drops
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The document provides step-by-step instructions for properly using eye drops. It explains how to clean the eyelids, wash hands, shake the bottle, pull down the lower eyelid to form a pocket, apply one drop, close the eyes for a minute while applying pressure to prevent drainage, wipe away excess, and wait between applying multiple drops. It also covers using eye ointments and general cautions for eye medications.
Using eye drops
- 1. HOW TO USE EYE DROPS Dr. Devin Prabhakar MS, FRCS Director, Managing Director, Divya Prabha Eye Hospital Health First Hospital Network
- 2. INTRODUCTION The following diagrams shows the steps to be followed for proper use of eye drops.
- 3. STEP 1 Dip cotton ball in boiling water. Squeeze out excess water and use the moist cotton boll to wipe and clean crusts around the eyelids. Wipe from the inside (next to the nose) toward the outside. Use a clean surface for each wipe so that discharge being cleaned away is not rubbed back across the eye. If no crusts are seen around eye proceed directly to step 2.
- 4. STEP 2 Wash hands with soap and water before handling the eye drop bottle Shake bottle or rotate it for 30 seconds to mix the contents Unscrew the bottle and keep the cap aside Do not touch the tip of the dropper
- 5. STEP 3 Tilt your head back OR Lie down on a cot and open your eyes wide and look up.
- 6. STEP 4 Pull down the lower eye lid to form a small pocket. The pocket so formed can hold one drop of medicine
- 7. STEP 5 Apply one drop into the pocket. If you use more eye drops the extra drops will overflow. Make sure the drop goes in, if in doubt you can apply one more drop.
- 8. STEP 6 Keep eyes closed for one minute. Apply gentle pressure over the area between the root of the nose and junction of upper and lower eye lids. This will prevent the eye drops from getting evacuated by the tear ducts into the nose.
- 9. HOW TO APPLY PRESSURE Diagram showing the tear ducts. Pressure should be applied over the area of lacrimal sac to prevent the eye drops from draining down these ducts to the nose.
- 10. STEP 7 Wipe excess drops with a tissue Do not rub eyes Do not try to push tears that overflow back into the eye
- 11. MULTIPLE DROPS If you are using more than one eye drop, wait at-least five minutes before applying the second eye drop.
- 12. EYE OINTMENTS Eye ointment is applied in the same way as eye drops. Apply a one cm. ribbon of ointment in the pocket formed by pulling down the lower eye lid. To improve flow of ointment, hold tube in hand for several minutes to warm before use
- 13. GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS Always bring the bottles with you when you come to the hospital. Please apply all the medications as instructed by your doctor on the day of your appointment unless your doctor has specifically asked you not to. It is enough to put one drop into the eye. Remember to carry eye drops with you when you travel. Use them in the same way as you did while at home. The patient must be careful in preventing contamination while traveling.
- 14. CAUTION Eye medications may cause burning for a few minutes. However if the medications cause redness, or swelling of the eye lids, or severe itching inform your eye doctor immediately.
- 15. Summary
- 16. THANK YOU! For further information email drdevin@gmail.com Or visit www.DivyaPrabha.in www.HealthFirstHospitals.com