Patient Information

Before you instil your eye drops:

  • Check the expiry date on your eye drops - make sure they have not expired.
  • Ensure you have the correct eye drop, it is the correct time of day to instil it & you are about to instil it in the correct eye.
  • If you are a contact lens wearer— remove your contacts at least 15 minutes before hand & replace contact lenses 15 minutes after the drops have been instilled.
  • Wash your hands thoroughly.
  • Take two clean tissues.
  • Remove the eye drop container cap, ensuring the tip of the container does not touch anything
  • Place the cap on one of the clean tissues.

How to instil your eyedrops?

  • Tilt your head back slightly (picture- 1)
  • Pull down your lower eyelid gently to create a pocket or pouch. (picture- 2)
  • Using your other hand, hold the bottle upside down above the lower lid pocket area - be careful not to touch your eye or lid area. (picture- 3)
  • Gently squeeze the eye drop container,  to allow only one drop to fall into the pocket of the lower eyelid
  • Gently release the lower lid and close your eye. Keep your eyes closed for at least 2 minutes.
  • Press the tip of your finger against the inner corner of the eye, in which the drop was just instilled. Continue to apply gentle pressure over this area for at least two minutes as you keep your eyes closed - this will improve the efficiency of the eye drop, by ensuring the eyedrop is properly absorbed into the eyeball & to help prevent any of the eye drop from escaping down the tear duct. (picture-4)
  • Gently wipe off any excess with the other tissue.
  • Repeat steps 1 to 7 if you need to instil an eye drop in the opposite eye.
  • If you have more than one eye drop to use, wait at least 5 minutes between each different drop.

Important tips: 

  • It is very important to use your eye drops exactly as instructed by Hills Eye Surgery. 
  • Do not adjust the frequency and/or the number of eye drops you have been prescribed without consulting your doctor.
  • Never allow another person to use your eye drops and do not use anyone else’s drops.
  • Use your eye drops at the same time each day ( you may need to set an alarm on your phone or watch to remind yourself to instil your eye drops at the correct times each day
  • If you miss a dose of your eye drops, use it as soon as you remember.
  • DO NOT instil extra drops to make up for the missing dose.
  • Remember to get a new script for your eye drops if you know you are about to run out of the current ones. Your GP can also prescribe the drops for you if you don't have an appointment at Hills Eye Surgery any time soon.
  • If it is too difficult to instil your eye drops yourself, consider asking someone else to instil them for you. 
  • If you are unsure about whether or not an eyedrop has gone into your eye - keep your eyedrops in the fridge, so you can feel the coldness of the eyedrop when it enters your eye.
  • Always store your eye drops in a cool place, some eye drops need to be kept in the fridge. Keep your eyedrops away from hot areas in the house and do not leave them in the car.
  • Most eye drops need to be discarded 28 days after the bottle was opened.