If allergies hit you hard, you know the value of good eye drops. Nothing helps soothe red, dry, itch and runny eyes better than a couple of eye drops. Whether you are suffering from glaucoma, a pink eye or just plain dryness, eye drops do the trick every time. They offer a convenient way of delivering the needed moisture as well as medication to your eyes.
Putting drops in your eyes is a simple exercise; however, this does not mean you can afford to be careless about performing this task. Failing to follow the necessary steps to dampen your eyes with drops is more than likely to hurt your chances to reap the intended benefits. Lack of care and improper technique can actually have adverse effects on your eye health. Here is a guide to putting drops in your eyes correctly.
Get it Right
It is important to get the right kind of eye drops for your particular condition. If mildly dry eyes are all that are bothering you, you can get an over the counter bottle of eye drops. However, for more serious conditions like Glaucoma and Conjunctivitis, refrain from getting drops without prescription. It is also important follow the schedule of putting in the drops strictly.
Clean it Up
Germs find it very easy to contaminate eyes. Make sure you wash your hands with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds before proceeding to put eye drops in. Your eyes must also be clean. Gently remove any gunk or rheum. Check to see if the tip of the dropper is clean. Take off the cap of the bottle and place it on a clean piece of tissue paper.
Make Room
Tilt your head back or better yet lie down. Look up and while concentrating on a single point. Now place one hand underneath your eye, a few inches below your eyelids to make some room between your eyeball and lower eyelid. This creates a pocket that offers the right place to put your drops in.
Drop Them In
Now hold the bottle in your other hand and place the tip of the dropper near the pocket you have created. Make sure the bottle does not touch the inside of your eye. Now squeeze the bottle firmly yet gently to take out a single drop of liquid. Practicing beforehand can help you master this technique.
Hold Them
Close your eyes, tilt your head down, and hold for a few seconds. Gently press on the inner corner of your eyelid as it helps preventing the drops to drain away from the tear duct. Do not be alarmed if you see some of the liquid running down your face. Your eye has likely received the necessary amount of moisture and medication. Clean the extra liquid with clean tissue paper and if needed repeat the process for your other eye.
When Done
Close the cap of the bottle tightly and store it as advised. If you need to put another kind of eye drops in your eyes, wait for at least 10 minutes to get best results. When you are done do not forget to thoroughly wash your hands.
This step-by-step guide to putting drops in your eyes correctly, makes using eye drops simple and eradicates any potential hassle. Talk to your optometrist for more help.
