By Nick Atkins, FBDO(Hons)CL FBCLA
Many eye drop users are never advised on how to correctly use their eye drops. This section is designed to help those new to putting drops into their eyes, as well as those who have done it before but find it all a bit awkward and messy!
To get more of the drop into your eye and less down your face simply follow the steps below:
1. Firstly, before applying drops, wash your hands with soap and water.
2. Squeeze the bottle or vial to ensure you have some of the drop ready for immediate release as soon as you are ready to drop it into the eye.
3. Gently pull down the lower lid to form a small pocket in which the drops are to be placed. This is most readily accomplished by gently pulling the skin, just below the eyelashes, down with one finger.
4. Tilt your head back and look up toward your eyebrows while in front of a mirror or reclining in a chair or on a bed. Gently squeeze a drop into your eye and blink several times to make sure the drops cover your eye. If you don't like putting drops into your eye, try closing the eye and gently pulling the lower lid down. Aim the drop into the inside corner of the eye, then open it and let the drop run down.
Tip! Since more than one drop may be administered accidentally, a tissue should be kept handy to wipe the excess from the skin.
Tip! Blocking the lower tear duct with your thumb or index finger for a minute or so will help stop the flow of the drop and the tears into the nose.
Other key steps to follow when using eye drops:
 After applying drops, replace the cap right away so it is secure. This will prevent evaporation and more importantly any contamination that can cause eye infections. Important: Do not wipe or rinse off the dropper.
To prevent infections developing or spreading, NEVER share your eye drops.
Check the drops aren't past their expiry date and check how long you have to use them before they're no longer sterile. In many cases this is 28 days after opening.
It is also essential to check how the drops should be stored - in most cases this is below 25C. (Always keep out of the reach and sight of children).
Keep the eye drop container clean. Avoid touching the dropper against the eye or anything else as it can contaminate it risking infection.
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