Using Eye Drops and Ointments
What is
the best way to put eye medication in my eye?
Eye
medication can be applied very simply by following some
basic instructions. Always wash your hands first. Shake the
medication bottle if indicated on the label. Open the bottle
or tube being careful that its tip does not touch anything.
Pull your lower eyelid down with the tip of your finger and
look up. Some people prefer to look in the mirror while
doing this or an assistant puts drops in the eye with
patient lying down in a straight position. Squeeze one drop
or 1/4 inch ribbon of ointment into the bottom lid, trying
not to touch the lid with the tip of the bottle or tube.
Close your eye gently for five minutes to allow the
medication to absorb. Residual ointment on your lids may be
wiped away with a tissue. The bottle or tube should be
re-capped. You should check the label to see whether
refrigeration is required between doses.
A slight
stinging sensation may be present after using your
medication. In addition, eye ointments will temporarily blur
the vision. When using multiple medications, wait a few
minutes (15 minutes) between each application to ensure that
the eye has time to absorb each. If your eye doctor has
prescribed a combination of eye drops and ointments, and you
are scheduled to put them in at the same time, always use
the drops a few minutes before the ointment. This helps the
eye drop penetrate the eye without hindrance from a thick
layer of ointment.
Should I
clean my eyelids before using eye medications?
Cleaning
the lids may be helpful if an accumulation of crusting or
discharge is present. An effective way to do this is to wet
a cotton ball with warm water and gently wipe the lid from
the inner corner in an outward direction with the eye
closed.
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