True or false? Eye-drops can’t be misused or applied incorrectly.
Though it may be a surprise to some, this is false! Eye drops are a medication, after all. Below are some do’s and don’ts for eye drops you should follow.
Do
- Wash your hands before touching your eye/applying drops
- Check the expiration date before using. For prescription eye drops, talk to your pharmacist.
- Keep track of dosages. Overusing drops, whether prescription or over-the-counter, can impact treatment.
- Remove contact lenses before applying drops. Keeping contacts in can interfere with the absorption of the drop.
- Aim for the outer part of your eye when applying drops.
- Blink normally. If you feel you can’t help but blink, keep your eye closed for at least 30 seconds.
Don’t
- Share eye drops with a friend.
- Let the tip of the bottle come in contact with your eye/eye lashes. Bacteria can spread and contaminate the drops (another reason you shouldn’t share with a friend!).
- Focus on the tip of the bottle when applying the drops. Instead, focus your eye on something further in the distance.
- Apply several drops at a time. Once you’re sure you successfully applied a drop to your eye, wait until your next dose to add more. Adding too many drops at once is wasteful, and can cause more issues.
- Mix multiple types of eye drops. If you’re using two different types of eye drops, it is important to stagger applications. You should wait a minimum of 30 minutes before applying a second type of eye drop.
- Self-diagnose. A red, itchy eye could be caused by allergies or it could be pink eye. Before you start treating a problem with eye drops, consult with an eye doctor.