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How to Prepare Sterile Eyedrops

Contributor
By Monica Sethi
eHow Contributing Writer
(0 Ratings)

Eyedrops help relieve soreness, dryness and irritation from pollution and allergies. You can use over-the-counter drops such as Visine, but preparing sterile eyedrops at home can be a more cost-effective and faster option than running out to the store.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy
Instructions

Things You'll Need:

    Preparing Sterile Eyedrops

  1. Step 1

    Wash hands thoroughly with antibacterial soap under hot running water for at least 30 seconds.

  2. Step 2

    Retrieve one cup spring or filtered water. Do not use tap water; the chlorine content can cause stinging in the eyes. Also make sure you have medium-sized cotton balls.

  3. Step 3

    Boil the water with a quarter teaspoon of iodized salt and a pinch of baking soda.

  4. Step 4

    Place the cotton balls in the boiling water. The boiling process will kill any germs and bacteria.

  5. Step 5

    Remove the boiling water from the stove and cover. Let the solution cool to room temperature before applying it to your eyes. You can use the cotton balls as the method to pour the sterile solution into your eyes, or you can pour the liquid into a sterile eyedropper bottle.

Tips & Warnings
  • You can store the liquid in the refrigerator and keep it as long as the boiled water doesn't come in contact with any outside, nonsterile ingredients. For example, an eyedropper that touches the eye and is placed back in the bottle will contaminate the solution.
  • Never use newly boiled solution in the eye.
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