An appropriate technique for applying eye drops is critical to the success of ocular treatments. Many eye conditions like glaucoma, blepharitis and dry eye require the daily use of eye medications on a chronic basis. Ocular surgery generally requires the use of pre-op and post-op drops for many weeks. As such, it is important to make the routine of instilling eye drops simple, comfortable and predictable. Additionally, most eye drops are expensive, so you don’t want to unnecessarily waste them by “missing”.

It is important to be relaxed, comfortable and under control when instilling drops. The best way to insure that you are relaxed and comfortable is to be in seated when you administer the drop. The best way to insure that you are under control is to watch yourself putting in the drops with the use of a mirror.

When possible, try to sit and watch yourself place the eye drops directly into the lower lid. The best manner to achieve this is to sit down in front of a mirror. The ideal technique would be to sit at a table and observe yourself in a makeup mirror. These inexpensive mirrors have a magnified and an unmagnified side and are available in most drugstores for less than $10. Because makeup mirrors are free-standing and magnified, you can lean close to the mirror and have both hands free to assist you as you observe a magnified image of your eye. (A woman would not think of putting on eye-liner without a mirror and a man would not shave without a mirror, so why not use the same technique to apply your eye drops?)

Technique for applying the drop:

• Sit (or stand) comfortably in front of a mirror.
• Gently pull your lower eyelid down with your finger to form a pocket.
• Do not try to pull the upper lid up; pull the lower lid down. This way you are not applying any pressure directly to the eye.
• If someone else is administering the drop, pull down the lower lid yourself and look directly at that person’s face.
• Grasp the bottle up-side-down and bring the bottle toward your eye.
• Point the tip of the dropper into the pocket you have formed and squeeze the bottle gently.
• Do not apply the drop directly to the eye, it will startle you. Applying the drop into the eyelid “pocket” allows you to actually watch as the drop goes into the eye without you feeling it.
• Once again, do not look up and do not tilt your head backwards. Simply look either straight ahead at yourself or at that face of the person administering your drops.
• Only one drop is necessary. Any extra drops will spill down your cheek and be wasteful.
• If you are holding the bottle up-side-down, you may not even have to squeeze the bottle. Some medications will simply fall from the tip without squeezing.
• If your hand blocks you from seeing your eye in the mirror, tilt your chin down so you can look “over” your hands and see your eye in the mirror.
• Once you see the drop fall onto the lid (or once you feel the drop in your eye) close your eyes and take your hands away from your face.
• Since the drop is deposited in the eyelid and not on the eye you may not feel the drop sometimes until you close your eyes.

How to Apply Eye Ointments

The application of eye ointments involves essentially the same technique as applying drops:

• Sit (or stand) comfortably in front of a mirror.
• Gently pull your lower eyelid down with your finger to form a pocket.
• Grasp the tube up-side- down and bring it toward your eye.
• Point the tip of the tube into the pocket you have formed and squeeze it gently.