Application Of Ocular Drugs

  How to apply eye drops

1. The patient should wash his or her hands thoroughly before eye drop administration. To make the procedure easier, use a mirror or ask someone to help you apply the medication.
2. Shake the bottle containing the eye drop gently especially when the eye drop is in form of suspension. This is to mix the contents well.
3. Remove the bottle cap (cover) and hold the bottle as if you are holding a pen.
4. Look up and tilt your head slightly backward, then position the bottle above your eye.
5. Now use the index finger of the other free hand to pull down the lower eyelid gently so that a pocket or pouch is formed.
6. Squeeze the bottle gently to instill one drop into the pouch making sure that the tip of the bottle does not touch the eye, eyelid, eyelashes or anything else to avoid contamination.
7. Remove your index finger and close your eyes gently. Use a clean tissue paper to wipe away excess eye drops from your cheeks.
8. Close the eye drop bottle tightly and wash your hands thoroughly to remove any medication.

Eye drops can also be applied as sprays especially when they are less irritating. The spray can be applied to the closed eyelid and when the patient blinks, the medication enters the precorneal tear film. There is no need for awkward position in order to receive the sprays. The use of mydriatic sprays has allowed satisfactory papillary dilation for fundus examination.

 

How to apply eye ointments and gels

1. The patient should wash his hands thoroughly before administration and to make the procedure easier for him; he should apply it in front of a mirror or ask someone to help him apply it.
2. Remove the cap of the tube and hold the tube as if you are holding a pen.
3. Look up and tilt your head slightly backward, then position the tube above your eye.
4. Now use the index finger of the other free hand to pull down the lower eyelid gently so that a pocket or pouch is formed.
5. Squeeze the tube to apply a small ribbon of the gel or 0.5-1.0cm of the ointment into the pocket making sure that the tip of the tube does not touch the eye, eyelid, eyelashes or anything else to avoid contamination.
6. Remove your index finger and blink your eye gently. Use a clean tissue paper to wipe away excess ointment or gel from your cheeks.
7. Cover the tube tightly and wash your hands thoroughly to remove any medication.

                                         

Lid scrubs: This involves the application of eye drops or ointments (especially antibiotics and johnson’s baby shampoo) on the ends of a cotton tipped applicator and the soaked cotton tipped applicator is the applied to the lash line of the lid margin with the eyelids either opened or closed. This direct application is more effective therapeutically than simply instillation of topical solutions or ointments into conjunctival sac. It is applied in the treatment of seborrheic or infectious blepharitis and neonatal conjunctivitis.

Important tips

If you are to apply a series of eye drops, ointments and / or gels, you should follow the procedure below and apply in that order.

1. Artificial lubricating solutions.
2. Eye drop solutions.
3. Eye drop suspensions or thick solutions.
4. Ophthalmic gels.
5. Ointments (should always come last).

You are advised to wait for at least five minutes between each application of eye drop solutions and ten mutes between each application of eye suspensions, gels or ointments.

Precautions

1. Always write the date you opened your eye drops, ointments and gels on their bottle and tubes and discard them when they expiry or when they are contaminated.
2. According to pharmacists, the shelf life of most eye products is 28 days hence dispose your eye drops, ointments and gels 28 days later after opening them.
3. After opening your eye products, do not store them in your refrigerator in an attempt to increase their shelf life.
4. Store your eye products out of reach of children in a cool dry place or as instructed on the label.
5. Do not share your eye drops, gels and ointments because most eye products are only for single-use.
6. Always remove your contact lens before applying eye products and put them back after 30 minutes.
7. While applying eye products, follow your eye doctor’s instructions or instructions on the label and do not miss doses.
8. When applying eye products, make sure the tip of the tube or bottle does not touch the eye, eyelid, eyelashes or anything else to avoid contamination.
9. Always cover the tube or bottle tightly and properly after using them.
10. Always follow the instructions on how to apply eye products and never apply directly into your eyes.

To learn more about eye drops and ointments click here.