Eye Drops: Proper Use and Important Instructions
Eye drops are medicated drops that are specially designed to treat eye problems. It is important to always use the eye drops prescribed by your ophthalmologist, as this is not a harmless treatment.
Precautions before instilling eye drops:
- Check that no mistake has been made when delivering the bottle.
- Make sure you use the correct bottle and check that the expiration date has not passed.
- Check that the bottle has not been opened for more than 15 days (or 28 days, depending on the product).
- Always wash your hands thoroughly before use.
How to insert the eye drops correctly:
- Tilt your head back slightly.
- Gently pull your lower eyelid.
- Place one drop into the conjunctival sac (the part of the eye below the eyelid).
- If you are unsure whether the drop has been applied correctly, do not hesitate to apply a second drop.
After using eye drops:
- Close the bottle tightly or throw away the unit dose.
- Store the bottle in a dark place, away from direct light.
Alternative technique for instilling eye drops:
- Lie down.
- Close your eyes.
- Apply one or two drops to the inner corner of the eye.
- Open your eyes so that the drops spread over the cornea.
- Wait a few seconds before standing up again.
Always follow your doctor's specific instructions and the directions on the eye drops packaging.