For some patients, taking glaucoma eye drops can be overwhelming. You may not think of all the questions you’d like to ask during your appointment. In Episode 12 of the Diagnosis Glaucoma podcast, Dr. Mona Kaleem and Dr. Harry Quigley cover the second part of their breakdown of glaucoma medications—focusing on the most common questions glaucoma patients ask about their medications.* Learn more about medication costs, storage techniques, and how to use eye drops and remember to take them.

Am I correctly putting my eye drops in?

The goal is to get one drop on the surface of your eye. According to Dr. Quigly, approximately one-fifth (⅕) of an eye drop has enough medicine to do the job. If you struggle to get just one drop into your eye, here are a couple of techniques to consider:

• Ensure your face is facing the ceiling. You can do this by sitting on a soft chair and leaning back or lying face-up in bed.
• Lie down flat and rest the back of your hand that is holding the bottle on your forehead. In doing so, you can tip the bottle up so it will be right over your eye. 
• For younger patients or patients who can easily stand up while putting drops in, you can look in the mirror, pull your eyelid down, and watch yourself as you do it. 

When putting in eye drops, is it safe if the bottle tip touches your eye?

Touching the skin to the tip of the bottle can put bacteria on the tip of it, where the bacteria can multiply and potentially lead to the development of an eye infection. 

Once you get the drop(s) in, should you close your eyes afterward?

After putting drops in each eye, Dr. Quigley recommends closing your eyes and waiting 60 seconds. This allows the medicine to penetrate the front portions of the eye and get inside the eye. 

Can an eye drop spread to other parts of my body? 

There is a drain that goes from your tear duct through your nose. With certain medicines that affect the body and ones that you can taste, you can prevent it from spreading by pressing two fingers on the bridge of your nose. This blocks the ducts and prevents the medication from spreading.

How long should I wait between different types of eye drops? 

Some patients are told they must wait 15 minutes between using different drops. Dr. Quigley says this is a myth, and a patient can put the second type of eye drop in after two minutes. The order in which you take them also does not matter, he said.

Can medications be stored at room temperature? 

Yes, but it needs to avoid direct sunlight. 

Can you put eye drop medications in the refrigerator? 

If you picked up medication and do not plan to use it for a few months, you can put it in the refrigerator. You do not have to put the current bottle you’re using in the refrigerator. 

Can I travel with my prescription eye drops? 

Yes, it is important to still use your eye drops when traveling. If you lose or run out of eye drops, call your doctor to order you a new prescription at the pharmacy where you are at. If flying, you can still bring your prescription bottles with you, as they are approved to go through Transportation Security Administration (TSA). 

Can you share eye drop bottles with someone else? 

On occasion, sharing bottles with your spouse or a loved one who is prescribed the same eye drops is acceptable as long as you have enough supply for both of you. 

What should I do if a medication is too expensive? 

Discuss this with your doctor. Insurance plans all have different types of coverages and associated costs, so your doctor may be able to prescribe a less expensive alternative.

Can I get less expensive eye drops from another country?

Certain countries, like Canada, have similar regulations and safety laws to the U.S. and would be acceptable. Most other countries, including Mexico and various European countries, do not have the same safety guidelines as the U.S. Speak to your doctor about what your options are and if there is any way to lower the cost of your medication.

*Kaleem, M. & Quigley, H (Hosts). (2020, Oct. 4). Glaucoma medications – Part 2 (Episode 12) [Audio podcast episode]. In Diagnosis Glaucoma. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/episode-12-glaucoma-medications-part-2/id1516222316?i=1000493632160

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