Eye Problems: Using Eyedrops and Eye Ointment

How to use eyedrops or eye ointment

Safety tips

Take these safety precautions when you use eyedrops or eye ointments:

• Wash your hands well before and after you insert the drops or ointment. If you have disposable medical gloves, wear them when you put eyedrops or eye ointments into someone else's eyes. Even if you wore gloves, wash your hands afterward.
• Be sure the dropper or tube is clean and does not touch the eye, eyelid, lashes, or any surface. This is to keep it free from bacteria. Eyedrops or ointments that get bacteria in them can easily spread the bacteria to the eye and cause an infection.
• If the dropper is separate from the bottle and touches the eye, do not put the dropper back in the bottle. Buy a new dropper at a drugstore.
• Do not use anyone else's drops or ointment.
• If you have an eye infection, do not wear contact lenses while you are using eyedrops or eye ointments unless your doctor has told you it is okay.

Use them exactly as directed. Make sure you understand the directions, and do not use the drops or ointment longer or in larger amounts than your doctor tells you to. This can hurt your eyes.

If your doctor prescribed one type of eyedrop or eye ointment to treat one problem, do not use the same medicine to treat a different problem.

Using eyedrops

To use eyedrops, follow these tips:

• For older children and adults: While tilting your head back, pull the lower eyelid down with one or two fingers to create a small pouch. Gently squeeze the dropper to put 1 to 2 eyedrops (or the number of drops your doctor told you) in the pouch. Close the eye for 30 to 60 seconds to let the drops absorb.
• For younger children: Have the child lie down with the eyes closed. Place an eyedrop in the inner corner of the closed eye. When the eye opens, the drop will run in.
• If you are putting more than 1 drop in your eye, wait at least 5 minutes between eyedrops. This helps prevent flushing away or diluting the first drop.

If you are using both eyedrops and eye ointment, put the eyedrop in at least 10 minutes before the ointment.

Using eye ointment

The method for inserting eye ointment is slightly different than for inserting eyedrops. When using eye ointments, follow these tips:

• For older children and adults: Pull the lower eyelid down with one or two fingers to create a pouch. Put a thin line of ointment in the pouch. Close the eye for 30 to 60 seconds to let the ointment absorb.
• For younger children, have the child lie down with eyes closed. Pull the lower eyelid out to create a pouch. Put a thin line of ointment in the pouch. With the child's eyes closed, ask the child to move his or her eyeball from side to side to move the ointment around the eye.
• Eye ointment can cause some temporary blurring of vision.

Using a mirror may make it easier to see what you are doing.