For drops that are required twice a day, the ideal dosing regimen is every 12 hours, and for drops that are dosed three times a day, the ideal dosing regimen is every 8 hours. For example, one class of medications, the prostaglandin analogues (including latanoprost, bimatoprost, and travoprost) should be instilled at bedtime once a day. In terms of timing, for a drop that is taken once a day, there are some medications that are better taken in the morning and others that are better taken in the evening. An ointment should go in at the very end, after you have instilled all of your eye drops. If you have two or more types of eye drops to put in at the same time, the order in which you instill them does not matter, unless you are using an ointment. Since the first eye drop can wash away the second eye drop if instilled in the eye too quickly, it is recommended to wait 5 minutes between instilling different types of eye drops (or at least 3 minutes if you are in a rush). Patients often want to know how long they should wait between taking different eye drops and what the ideal timing is. Therefore, the ideal way to instill your eye drops is to combine both methods: close your eyes and press on the inside corners for 2 minutes after a drop is instilled. An added bonus is that this maneuver prevents the medication from making its way into the nose, throat, and the rest of the body, so that any eye drops that could have side effects on your body as a whole are minimized. Your eyeball’s drainage system for your tears is in this area, and by pressing it closed you prevent the medication from draining away from your eyeball and into your nose. Punctal OcclusionĪ second way to ensure penetration of the eye drop into your eye is to perform “punctal occlusion.” This involves pressing your finger (your index finger is recommended) near the inside corner of your eye for 2 minutes after instilling the eye drop. This is a good time to relax and take a moment to refresh yourself during your day. However, in order to help the eye drop penetrate your eye, the easiest thing to do is to keep your eyes closed for 2 minutes after instilling the drop because blinking activates the “pump” that drains your tears away from the eyeball.
As discussed in the "Cold and Wet" tip below, a single drop is more than enough for the eye to handle. Patients often worry about not getting enough of the eye drop into the eye because they feel some of the eye drop running down their face. View the video transcript Close and Press If you do have neck problems, then lying flat on your back and following the above steps without the mirror will also work. If your hands are shaky, you can brace the hand holding the bottle with your non-dominant hand, which is simultaneously pulling down your lower eyelid. Use a clean tissue to wipe away the excess eye drop. Close your eye and keep it closed for 2 minutes. Do not blink excessively (see the "Close and Press" tip below). With the index finger of your non-dominant hand, gently pull down your lower eyelid to form a “pocket.” Look gently up and squeeze one drop into the pocket in your lower lid using your dominant hand. Your head will not be as tilted, but this method helps some people find correct location to instill the drop. Another method is to stand in front of a mirror to help guide you. If you do not have neck problems, tilt your head back while sitting or standing. Avoid keeping your eye drop bottle in your pocket, the car, or in direct sunlight where it can get hot. Remember to close the bottle after each use too, as open bottles are more easily contaminated. If you do have to clean the bottle tip because of accidental contamination, use a clean tissue or a rubbing alcohol pad. Another often overlooked source of contamination is the bottle cap, so be sure to place it on a clean surface such as a fresh tissue. Wash your hands before putting in your eye drops, and do not allow the tip of the dropper to touch your eye, eyelid, eyelashes, or fingers. Learn helpful tips and tricks to properly apply eye drops for glaucoma.