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Vision Lifestyle Health and Wellness

Eye Drop Safety

Kathy Landsparger

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.