Step by step instructions on how to use eye medications, both eye drops and ointments, and how to maintain proper eye hygiene.

HOW TO USE EYE MEDICATIONS

General Information

1. Directions for use of your drops or ointment are on the label of the bottle or tube. Record the name of your medication in case the medicine is lost or spilled. Refrigerate drops only when the label has instructions to do so.
2. You must use your medications as often as the doctor has instructed. Unless you have been told to awaken and use medication during the night, medications are intended to be used during waking hours. Plan a schedule and make every effort to use the medicine as close to the prescribed time as possible.
3. Carry your medicines with you when ever you are away from home and continue to use them as usual. Be sure to bring them to your doctor at each visit and ask for any change in instructions. Avoid exposing the medications to sunlight.
4. It is not unusual for eye medications to sting or burn slightly for a few minutes when they are first used. Eye ointments may cause vision to be temporarily blurred, and may cause prolonged burning.

1. Always wash your hands before putting drops in your eyes.
2. Shake the eye medication well if labeled to do so.
3. Carefully open the medication container. Be sure the tip of the dropper does not touch anything!! Place the cap on its side on a flat surface.
4. Tilt your head back, or if needed, lie down comfortably on your bed.
5. Place the ridge of the eyedrop bottle on the bridge of your nose with the dropper facing over the affected eye.
6. Look up. (If your eye is swollen, pull your lid down gently, forming a pocket between your eye and your lid.)
7. Squeeze bottle
8. Close your eye gently for 5 minutes.
9. Replace cap.
10. If you are using more than one medication, wait 5 minutes between each drop.

1. Always wash your hands.
2. Remove the cap from the tube and place it on its side on a flat surface. Be sure the applicator end of the tube does not touch anything. To ensure that the ointment going into the eye is sterile, you may want to squeeze a small amount of it onto a wet cotton ball. Discard the cotton ball.
3. Hold the ointment in one hand and with the fingers of the other hand, pull down the lower lid of the eye.
4. Hold the applicator end of the tube close to the eye, but not touching and squeeze the ointment in a ribbon about 1/2" along the inside of the lower lid while you look up.
5. Carefully replace the cap on the tube.

1. Always wash your hands.
2. Wet a cotton ball with sterile water.
3. Close the operated eye.
4. Wipe the eye gently from the inner corner outward, being careful not to apply pressure.