Putting in eye drops properly can be vital to preserving vision. Failing to do so not only defeats the purpose of having them, but can also be wasteful and expensive. Arizona-based ophthalmologist Michele Lee, M.D. says that doing it incorrectly is a “very common problem” and “can be tricky,” particularly if there’s no one to help you. Here, she provides some tips, and takes you through the eye drop application process, to help you get the most from your topical glaucoma medicines.*

5 helpful tips for administering eye drops

Keep it cold (0:29)

Lee says that her best piece of advice is to store eye drops in the refrigerator (unless otherwise indicated). The cold sensation against your eyeball will confirm that the drop went into your eye. A cold eye drop is also soothing on dry eyes and can make eye drops that burn less discomfiting.

Use your dominant hand (0:50)

It’s important to hold the eye drop bottle with your dominant hand. This will provide the needed strength to squeeze the drop from the bottle. “There is quite a bit of finger or hand strength needed to get the drop out,” Lee says. 

• Be sure to rest your dominant hand on your non-dominant hand, to steady the applicator and ensure proper drop placement.
• At the same time, use your non-dominant hand to pull down on the lower eyelid and create a pocket for inserting the drop. 

Remember cleanliness (1:24)

Lee advises washing your hands, keeping the bottle cap on a clean tissue or towel, and not touching your eye with the tip of the eye dropper.

Just one drop (1:36)

You only need one eye drop, since the eyes can only handle about 10 microliters of fluid, and the average eye drop is 50 microliters. This is why much of an eye drop often spills onto the cheek and is wasted.

Block the corners (2:03)

Right after inserting eye drops, place the tips of your index fingers on the inside corners of both eyes to help prevent drainage through the tear ducts. Likewise, avoid excessive blinking, as this also removes excess tears from the eyes, along with the medication.

• These habits are especially important with medications that can affect the whole body, like steroid drops and glaucoma medications.

3 simple ways to administer eye drops

Head tilt (2:49)

While looking in a mirror, tilt your head back slightly. Position the bottle dropper directly over the pocket formed with the lower eyelid. Remember to hold the bottle with the dominant hand and to rest that hand on the non-dominant hand that is forming the pocket with the lower eyelid.

Nose rest (3:10)

If lying down, rest the bottle on the bridge of your nose with the dropper tip in view. Just squeeze and the drop should fall into the eye.

‘Blink in’ (3:25)

Used by Lee personally, the last method involves tilting your head back and placing a drop on the inner corner of the eye. Simply open the eye and “blink in” the drop. This is a good method for those “squeamish” about eye drops, as well as for children.

*Lee, M. (2022, February 5). Tips for Putting In Eye Drops | 3 Techniques That Work! [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dvFBCdlR75s