How to give eye drops

Types of eye drops

We will discuss three different types of eye drops:

• Antibiotic eye drops for eye discharge (commonly caused by infections)
• Allergy eye drops for itchy eyes (commonly caused by allergies)
• Lubricating eye drops for dry eyes.

How to give eye drops

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ያስፈልግዎታል:

• Clean gloves
• Clean gauze or tissue
• The correct type of eye drops for the person.

Check that you have the correct eye drops and that they have not expired.

Check that the person does not have any allergies to the ingredients in the eye drops.

Always wash and dry your hands with soap or sanitizer gel before and after giving eye drops.

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Ensure the person is sitting comfortably. Explain:

• You will put eye drops into their eye
• If the person needs to continue using eye drops themselves, advise how much and how often they should use the eye drops.

Provide eye drops

1. Ensure your hands are clean or wear clean gloves
2. Have a dry piece of tissue or gauze nearby
3. Ask the person to gently tilt their head backwards
4. Gently pull the bottom eyelid down with your finger to create a pocket
5. Hold the bottle a few centimetres above the eye
6. Squeeze the bottle and put only one drop into the pocket at the lower part of the eye without touching the eye or eyelids
7. With the person’s eye closed, ask them to press gently on the inner corner of their eye with their finger. This will keep the drops in the eye
8. Wipe away excess drops, if any, with the dry piece of tissue/gauze
9. Dispose of the used tissue/gauze afterward.

Record

Record in the Action taken section of the PEC Screen form by ticking ‘Provided medication’.

Write the type and dose of medication, and the instructions you have given the person if they are to continue at home.