opthalmic medication administration
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
Eye Medications
Eye drops and ointments are the most common ways to medicate the eye.
Why Are Eye Medications Needed?
The most common therapeutic uses for eye medications include glaucoma, eye infections, allergy and inflammation of the eye. Eye drops are also used for diagnostic purposes to dilate the pupils or to dye the ocular surface for eye examinations. Additionally, there are anesthetic eye drops to numb the eye. These are used for some diagnostic tests or for removing foreign objects from the cornea
Proper Use of Eye Medications?
- Perform hand hygiene
- Organize equipment
- Verify client
- Prepare medication adhering 10 rights of drug administration
- Put on gloves
- Position the patient
- Tell patient to look up
- Lower lid down by using cotton balls
- Use dominant hands in holdng the medication
- Instill ordered number of drops into lower lid and inner corner
- Instruct patient to close lid and roll eyes
- Wipe excess medication using cotton balls
- Replace the cap of the medication
- Instruct patient to remain in position for 5 minutes
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