It’s common for people to worry before getting a major surgery. Thoughts like “is the surgery worth it?” “Are there no alternatives?”, “ Can I get it treated through home remedies?” often cause us to worry and strThere are a variety of reasons why eye drops are used. They could be either for dry eyes, red eyes, glaucoma, or healing infections, among others. Whatever the reason, there is always a right way to put eye drops. 

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It is important that you know how to put eye drops in efficiently, because if used incorrectly, the purpose of the medication might be lost. Most people have difficulty getting the drop from the container onto the eye’s surface, as well as getting the drop from the surface of the eye to the inside of the eye. 

In this blog, we will be breaking down the process of putting the eye drops yourself so the next time you can do it as efficiently and carefully as possible to get the most of its benefits. 

Steps to effectively apply  eye drops by yourself

Step 1: Wash your hands 

• Since you will be touching your face and the skin near your eyes, wash your hands in soap and water and dry with a clean towel or paper towel. If soap and water are not available, hand sanitiser can be used instead.  

Step 2: Look up  

• Begin by sitting, standing, or lying down with your head tilted backward. With your finger, pull your lower eyelid down gently to create a pouch or pocket where the eye drop will go.

Step 3: Squeeze in a drop 

• Squeeze one drop into the bottom lid pocket while holding the dropper tip directly over the pocket. Don’t blink, wipe, or touch your eye or face with the dropper’s tip.

Step 4: Close and hold 

• Close your eyes lightly and tilt your face toward the floor for two to three minutes. If recommended, apply mild pressure to your tear ducts, which are located near the corner of the eyelid and the nose. 

Step 5: Wash your hands 

• After handling medication and touching your face, it’s critical that you wash your hands with soap and water.

If you’re too anxious to put the eyes drops yourself, you can always ask a family member or a friend to help you apply the drops. 

Precautionary measures 

Besides these basic steps, there are certain precautions you should keep in mind, to avoid incidents of injury or infection 一 

• Avoid contact between the dropper tip and your eye or any other surface. If the dropper tip comes into contact with any surface, bacteria or other germs could be picked up leading to an eye infection.
• Do not share your eye drops with anybody else. It’s possible that sharing drops could spread germs and sickness.
• Unless your doctor or pharmacist says it’s okay, don’t use contact lenses when administering prescription eye drops. Wait at least 15 minutes after using the drops before putting in contact lenses, unless you’re using moisturising drops for contact lenses.

Eye drops are an important part of eye care; if you have any concerns about your eye drops, don’t hesitate to discuss them with your ophthalmologist. At Prasad Netralaya we are equipped with the best eye doctors in Mangalore to give you the best treatment possible. If you have vision or ocular problems, or you need to make inquiries about your eye drops, visit our website to schedule a consultation or call us on our toll-free number 1800-4251-919 or our mobile no. 09513576565 to book a quick appointment. Consult the best eye specialist in Mangalore for a full diagnosis and treatment plan— your eyes will thank you!