How to Self-Administer Eye Drops

Keeping your eyes healthy sometimes requires using eye drops.

Eye drops can be difficult to self-administer; for many people the action of putting medication into their own eyes seems an impossible task. However, many eye conditions will worsen if medication is not properly employed, and situations will occur when you have no one to help you apply your eye drops. After mastering the process, it will become an easy and effortless task. You can self-administer eye drops in less than a minute and move on with your day.

Things You'll Need

• Eye Drops
• Antibacterial Hand Soap
• Water

Instructions

1. Wash your hands thoroughly with antibacterial soap to be sure they are free of any germs or dirt that could get into your eye.

2. Shake the container of eye drops and unscrew the cap. Do not touch the applicator tip with your fingers, as you want this surface to remain as sterile as possible.

3. Tilt your head back slightly and pull your lower eyelid away from your eye; this forms a small pocket beneath your eyeball.

4. Hold the eye dropper or bottle over your eye and look up. Brace your hand against your forehead to keep it steady.

5. Lightly squeeze the dropper or container and dispense the recommended number of drops into the pocket formed by your lower eyelid.

6. Release the lower eyelid and close your eye for one to two minutes. Repeat steps with other eye if necessary.

7. Replace the cap onto the eye drop container and wash your hands with antibacterial soap.

Tips & Warnings

• If you're still having trouble, ask your optometrist to show you some tips on how to administer eye drops.

References

• General Leonard Wood Army Community Hospital: How to Use Eye Drops