Steps For Putting In Eye Drops:
1. Start by tilting your head backward while sitting, standing, or lying down. With your index finger placed on the soft spot just below the lower lid, gently pull down to form a pocket.
2. Let a drop fall into the pocket.
3. Slowly let go of the lower lid. Close your eyes but try not to shut them tight or squint. This may push the drops out of your eye.
4. Gently press on the inside corner of your closed eyes with your index finger and thumb for two to three minutes. This will help keep any drops from getting into your system and keep them in your eye, where they are needed.
5. Blot around your eyes to remove any excess.
If you are still having trouble putting eye drops in, here are some tips that may help:
If Your Hands Are Shaking:
Try approaching your eye from the side so you can rest your hand on your face to help steady your hand.
If shaky hands are still a problem, you might try using a 1 or 2 pound wrist weight (you can get these at any sporting goods store). The extra weight around the wrist of the hand you're using can decrease mild shaking.
If You Are Having Trouble Getting The Drop Into Your Eye:
Try This. With your head turned to the side or lying on your side, close your eyes. Place a drop in the inner corner of your eyelid (the side closest to the bridge of your nose). By opening your eyes slowly, the drop should fall right into your eye.
If you are still not sure the drop actually got in your eye, put in another drop. The eyelids can hold only about one drop, so any excess will just run out of the eye. It is better to have excess run out than to not have enough medication in your eye.
Having Trouble Holding Onto The Bottle?
If the eye drop bottle feels too small to hold (in cases where a dropper isn't used and the drop comes directly from the bottle), try wrapping something (like a paper towel) around the bottle.
You can use anything that will make the bottle wider. This may be helpful in some mild cases of arthritis in the hands.