To ensure that a customer receives full benefit from eye drops or ointment it is important they know how to apply the treatment effectively.

Best Practice to follow when applying eye treatments:-

• Wash the hands first.
• If the eye has any discharge or crusting clean initially with clean wet cotton wool.
• Remove the lid from the product and place on a clean tissue on its side.
• Do not touch the dropper tip or ointment top with your hands.
• Gently tilt the head slightly backwards and pull the lower eyelid down to form a pocket.
• If applying drops hold the dropper bottle just above the pocket, being careful not to touch the eye. Gently squeeze one drop in and then close the eye for as long as possible tilting the head down towards the floor. Press on the edge of the eye nearest the nose to prevent the liquid draining away through the tear duct.
• If applying ointment, gently squeeze the tube to release a thin layer of ointment into the eye pocket and close the eye for as long as possible tilting the eye towards the floor.
• Wipe away any excess drops or ointment and repeat the process in the same or opposite eye if additional dosage is required.
• Replace the lid on the bottle/tube when finished and store the drops or ointment at the appropriate temperature.

Whilst all treatments will have a use by date, this assumes they are unopened. Once opened they should be used within the time frame stated within the patient information leaflet, typically this is 28 days or four weeks. Treatments for bacterial conjunctivitis are best discarded as soon as the condition has cleared and treatment has finished. You could advise your customers to write the date of opening on the label of the bottle.