This document provides steps for properly administering ophthalmic medication. It begins by stating the importance of using the right approach and following the proper steps. It then lists 17 steps for administering eye drops, including assessing the eye, explaining the procedure to the patient, instilling the drops, and applying pressure after to prevent overflow. It also lists 3 steps for administering eye ointment and provides precautions about using ointment after drops and waiting between different eye medicines. The overall purpose is to outline the correct procedure for administering different types of eye medications to ensure maximum benefits and safety.

1. How to administer
ophthalmic medication.

2.  Administering of ophthalmic medication,
by health care professionals using right
approach to achieve maximum benefits.

3. Delegate consideration.
The skill of administering
ophthalmic medication can’t be
delegated.

4. STEPS OF ADMINISTRING
OPHTHALMIC MEDICATION.

5. STEPS RATIONALE
1. Follow five rules:
 Right prescription or file.
 Right patient.
 Right medication.
 Right route.
 Right dose.
All these are the most reliable
sources and only legal record of
medications client to receive.
2. Access condition of external
eye structure.
It indicates need to clean eye
before medication application.

6. STEPS RATIONALE
3. Determine whether client
has any known allergies to eye
medication.
Protects client from allergic
medication.
4. Any symptoms of visual
alteration.
Certain eye medication
either lessen or increase these
symptoms.
5. Assess client’s level of
consciousness & ability to
follow directions.
Greater risk of eye injury
exists.
6. Assess client’s knowledge
regarding medication &
desire to self administer
medication.
It indicates need for health
teaching. Motivation
influences teaching
approach.

7. STEPS RATIONALE
7. Medication to client at
correct time.
Medication within 30
minutes after prescribed time
to ensure intended
therapeutic effect.
8. Perform hand hygiene. It reduces transmission of
microbes.
9. Allow eye drops to come to
room temperature before
giving to client, if drops are
stored in refrigerator.
Warming eye drops reduces
irritation to eye.
10. Gently roll container. Ensures medication is mixed
before use & shaking bottle
causes bubbles, which makes
difficult to administer.

8. STEPS RATIONALE
11. Explain procedure to
client, include positioning
and sensation to expect, such
as burning or stinging.
Relieves anxiety about
medication being instilled
into eye.
12. Ask client to lie supine or
sit back in chair with head
slightly hyper extended.
It provides easy access to eye
for instillation & minimizes
drainage of medication
through tear duct.
13. If crusts or drainage are
present along eyelid margin
gently wash way by applying
damp wash cloth from inner
to outer canthus.
Soaking allows easy removal
& prevents pressure applied
directly over eye, & cleaning
from inner to outer canthus
avoid entrance of microbes
into lacrimal duct.

9. STEPS RATIONALE
14. Hold cotton swab in non
dominant hand on client’s
cheek bone just below lower
lid.
Cotton absorb medication
that escapes from eye.
15. With cotton resting lower
lid, gently press downward
with thumb or forefinger
against bony orbit.
It exposes conjunctival sac.
Retraction against bony orbit
prevents pressure & trauma to
eyeball & prevents fingers
from touching eye.
16. Ask client to look at
ceiling.
It retracts sensitive cornea up
& away from conjunctival sac
& reduces stimulation of
blink reflex.

10. STEPS RATIONALE
17. With dominant hand
resting on client’s forehead,
hold filled medication eye
dropper approximately 1-2 cm
(1/2 to ¾ inch) above
conjunctival sac.
Helps prevent accidental
contact of eye dropper with
eye, reduce risk of injury to
eye & transfer of infection to
dropper. Ophthalmic solution
are sterile.
18. Drops prescribed number
of medication drops into
conjunctival sac.
Sac normally holds 1-2 drops.
Provides even distribution of
medication across eye.

11. STEPS RATIONALE
19. If client blinks or closes
eye or drop land on outer
margin repeat procedure.
Client obtain therapeutic
effect of drug only when
drops enter sac.
20. After instilling eye drops
apply gentle pressure with
your finger on the client’s
nasolacrimal duct for 30 to 60
seconds.
Prevents overflow of
medication into nasal &
pharyngeal passages &
prevents absorption into
systemic circulation.

13. Instillation of eye ointment.
STEPS RATIONALE
1. Ask client to look at ceiling. It retracts cornea up & away
from sac & reduces
stimulation of blink reflex.
2. Hold ointment applicator
above lower lid margin, apply
with stream of ointment
evenly along inner edge of
lower eyelid on conjunctiva
from the inner canthus to
outer canthus.
Distributes medication evenly
across eye & lid margin.

14. STEPS RATIONALE
3. Have client close eye & rub
lid lightly in circular motion
with cotton ball, if rubbing is
not contra indicated.
Further distributes
medication without
traumatized eye.

16. Precautions:
 When using both ointments and drops, use the ointment
AFTER the drops.
Eye drops interval:
 Do not give more than one eye medicine at a time.
 Wait 5 minutes between medicines.