Patient education: How to use eye medicines (The Basics)

What are eye medicines? — These are medicines directly applied to the eye. They come in different forms. They have different amounts of water and other ingredients to give them a different texture. Examples include:

●Drops – Eye drops are a liquid. They quickly coat the eye as you blink. Most eye drops do not cause blurry vision.

●Gels – Eye gels are slightly thicker than eye drops. They can also come as a small "insert." This is a small device that is placed between the eye and the eyelid and dissolves over time. Some gels can cause blurry vision for a little while.

●Ointments – Eye ointments have the thickest texture. They use your body heat to "melt" and break down into tiny drops. The drops slowly become liquid as you blink and move your eyes. This gives the medicine more time to work. Eye ointments can make your vision blurry for a time.

What kinds of medicines can be given as an eye drop, gel, or ointment? — Many medicines can be given in this way. Examples include medicines to:

●Prevent or treat symptoms like:

•Dry eyes

•Swelling

•Redness

•Itching

•Soreness

●Moisten contact lenses

●Treat eye infections

●Prevent or treat other eye problems like glaucoma

How do I use eye medicines? — Ask your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist if you have any questions about your medicine. In general, here are the steps:

●Check the medicine:

•Read the label to make sure that you have the correct medicine. Check that it is not expired.

•Know if you need the medicine in 1 eye or both.

•Know how long you should use the eye medicine and how often to apply it. If you are using eye drops, know how many drops to use.

•If you wear contact lenses, know if you need to take them out before using the eye medicine.

●Wash your hands with warm, soapy water.

●If you have any drainage or crusting in your eye, gently remove it before you use your eye medicine. Use a clean, warm, wet cloth or cotton ball.

To use eye drops or gel:

●Shake the medicine well.

●Take off the cap. Lay the cap on its side on a clean surface.

●Tilt your head back. Use 1 finger to gently pull your lower eyelid away from your eye to form a pouch.

●With your other hand, squeeze the prescribed number of drops into the pouch. Do not touch the tip of the bottle. Do not let the tip touch your eye or anything else.

If you have trouble keeping your eye open to put the medicine in, try to gently close your eye. Place the eye drop in the corner of your eye near your nose. Slowly open your eye and blink a few times. The eye drop will move into your eye.

●Gently close your eyes. Your doctor might tell you to press 1 finger on the inside corner of your eye by your nose to apply pressure to your tear duct. This helps the eye drop stay in your eye and prevents draining into your nose.

●After 1 to 2 minutes, move your finger and open your eyes.

●Place the cap back on the bottle. Be careful not to touch the tip of the bottle.

●Wash your hands.

To use eye ointment:

●Take the cap off. Lay the cap on its side on a clean surface.

●Tilt your head back. Use 1 finger to gently pull your lower eyelid down and away from your eye to form a pouch. Do not touch your eye with your finger.

●With your other hand, squeeze a small strip (about 1/4 inch, or 1 cm) of ointment into the pouch. Do not touch the tip of the tube to your eye.

If you have trouble keeping your eye open to put the ointment in, ask someone to help you.

●Gently blink your eye a few times, then close your eye for 1 to 2 minutes. This helps the ointment stay in.

●Then, use a clean tissue to remove any extra ointment around your eye. Be careful not to touch your eye.

●Place the cap back on the tube. Take care not to touch the tip of the tube.

●Wash your hands.

What are the risks of using eye medicines? — Your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist will talk to you about all of the possible risks, and answer your questions. Possible risks include:

●Mild itching

●Burning

●Stinging

●Blurred vision

●Eye infection

What else should I know?

●Know how to store your eye medicines. Protect them from heat and sunlight. Ask if they need to be stored in the refrigerator.

●Some eye drops come in single-use containers. They should only be used to give 1 dose, even if some medicine is left over.

●Be careful not to touch the tip of the bottle or tube to any surfaces, your hands, or your eye.

●If you are using more than 1 kind of eye drop, wait at least 5 minutes between using different drops.

●If you are using eye drops or gel and eye ointment, use the drop or gel first. Wait at least 5 minutes before using the ointment.

●Don't share eye medicines with other people. Sharing could spread germs or infection.

More on this topic

Patient education: Dry eye (The Basics)
Patient education: Angle-closure glaucoma (The Basics)
Patient education: Open-angle glaucoma (The Basics)
Patient education: Conjunctivitis (pink eye) (The Basics)
Patient education: Environmental allergies in adults (The Basics)
Patient education: Environmental allergies in children (The Basics)

Patient education: Conjunctivitis (pink eye) (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Allergic conjunctivitis (Beyond the Basics)