What tips are recommended for using eye drops to treat glaucoma?
Author: Dr. Joel Solano
Patients sometimes struggle with eye drops. Challenges range from not being able to open or squeeze the bottle to difficulty with getting the drop to actually land on the eye. For those people that have access
to help, having a second person there to administer the drops often resolves any issues with their placement. If a person lives alone or doesn’t have access to help then a few tips can often get people successfully placing their drops.
For those who cannot open the bottles it often helps to have someone open them for you. Have a person open the drops for you when you can and bundle several bottles, if possible, to get more ready.
There are tools/gadgets available for purchase to help you squeeze the bottles but another option is to have your physician prescribe for you a drop that comes in a larger bottle. The larger bottles may not be as difficult for you to open as some of the smaller ones.
If you are struggling with getting the drop to land on your eye and you do not have someone to help, it often is useful to lay flat in bed. This is a more stable position for many and often allows for a successful drop placement. Watch this video to learn more.
