"How to Use Eye Drops" from Glaucoma Associates of Texas

Eye drops to lower intraocular pressure are the most important form of initial treatment for glaucoma. Despite their widespread use, many patients do not know how to apply them correctly. Fortunately, there are several ways to do this effectively.

Bend your head back and look up toward your eyebrows while in front of a mirror or reclining in a chair or bed (Figure 1). The lower lid should be gently pulled down to form a small pocket in which the drops are placed. This is most readily accomplished by gently pulling the skin down with one finger. Since more than one drop may be administered accidentally, a tissue should be kept handy to wipe the excess from the skin.

Figure 1: The lower lid is gently pulled down to form a
small pocket in which the drops are placed.

After applying the drop, the eyelids should be gently closed for about two minutes to allow time for the medication to be absorbed into the eye. Although you may feel like blinking, you should try to avoid this. Blinking may squeeze the drop out of the eye and into the tear duct which leads into the nose. Squeezing the lids closed also may cause the drop to spill over onto the cheek. By gently closing the lids, the medication will remain in contact with the eye so that it can be absorbed.

Block the tear ducts with your thumb or index finger for two minutes as the eyelids are gently closed, so the flow of the drop and the tears into the nose can be avoided (Figure 2). Note: Be sure that your eyes are closed while you block the tear ducts. Since tears normally flow from the surface of the eye into the tear ducts, a drop which is placed on the eye and mixes with tears will do the same. This is particularly important since the inside of the nose is like a sponge. It can readily absorb the drop into the blood, where it can then affect your heart, lungs, and brain.

Figure 2: By blocking the tear ducts with your fingers for two minutes,
the flow of a drop and the tears into the nose can be avoided.

If you are using more than one eye drop, you should wait at least 5 minutes before applying the second eye drop to have it absorbed best. The lower lid pocket into which the drop is placed is small and can hold a little more than one drop at a time. Placing more than one drop at a time causes an overflow, and washes the eye drop from the eye.

Bring your eye drops with you every time you have an appointment with your eye doctor. Your eye doctor can help you learn to use your eye drops correctly.

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Glaucoma Associates of Texas
7150 Greenville Avenue, Suite 300
Dallas, TX 75231
Office: 214-360-0000
Fax: 214-360-0083