How do you administer eye drops to Nclex?
Have the patient look up and away to prevent the tip of the tube or dropper from touching the client's eye. . Rest your hand against the client's forehead to steady it. To administer drops, pull down the lower lid and instill the ordered number of drops into the conjunctival space.
What is the route for administering eye drops?
Eye treatment: drug administration The structure of the eye is divided into two main parts: the anterior segment and the posterior segment. Drugs are most commonly administered to the anterior segment of the eye by topical application in the form of eye drops or ointments.
Which eye drops do you administer first?
If you're using both an eye solution and an eye suspension, use the solution first. Then use the suspension. Your doctor or pharmacist can tell you the difference between these types of medications. If you're using eye drops and an eye ointment, use the eye drops first.
How to check eye drops?
Inspect the eye drops bottle and contents properly. Double-check the consistency of the eye drops. Discard the eye drops if they look suspicious, have turned cloudy, or have changed color.
How to get eye drops out of your eye?
Tilting the head back prevents the eye drops from spilling out. Pull down the lower lid of your eye with the index finger of the non-dominant hand to form a v-pocket in the lower eyelid. The v-pocket is the area that accommodates the eye drop. Hold the eye drop (with the tip pointing down) with your dominant hand.
How to prevent eye drops from polluting?
Avoid hand, finger, or skin contact with the dropper tip. This prevents bacteria from polluting the eye drops content and dropper tip. The drops must be sterile. This means that they must not have been in contact with anything before putting them inside your conjunctival sac (tear duct).
Why is it important to apply eye drops?
Hygienic, proper application of eye drops is very important to enhance their effectiveness and prevent doing unnecessary damage to the eyes. An infection due to dirty hands or dropper tip, for example, is something that can be easily avoided.
Why do eye drops have to be sterile?
This is very important because the eye is a very sensitive organ where an infection can develop quickly, leading to serious damage .
What are eye drops?
Know the various types of eye drops. Eye drops are drugs designed for local or topical use, just for the eye. They can be solutions (liquids that contain at least two soluble substances), suspensions (liquids that contain particles in a solvent, that are not dissolving), or emulsions (liquids in which we have at least two non-miscible components) .
What is the purpose of eye drops?
Eye drops can soothe dryness, cure infections, help with allergy symptoms, relieve swelling, and give much-needed relief to your eyes.
Why do we use eye drops?
Purpose. Eyedrops may be instilled to treat a number of eye disorders or to anesthetize an eye before treatment. An ophthalmic assistant, technician, nurse or physician instills eyedrops during a routine eye examination or during treatment for ocular disease. Anesthetic eyedrops are instilled before surgery on the eye.
How to prevent medication from falling on the cornea?
Prevent medication from sensitive cornea. Hold the dropper close to the eye but avoid touching the eyelids. Touching the eyelids may startle the patient and cause him to blink. Allow the prescribed number of drops to fall in the lower conjunctival sac but do not allow to fall onto the cornea.
What is a dilatory eyedrop?
Dilatory eyedrops may be instilled during an examination to achieve a better view of the retina. ADVERTISEMENTS.
How to stop solution from flowing into other eye?
To prevent solution or tear from flowing towards the other eye. Fill eye dropper with medication but prevent from flowing back into the bulb end. Loose particles of rubber from bulb end may slip into medication. Using forefinger, pull lower lid down gently. To expose inner surface of lid and cul-de-sac.
How to prevent microorganisms in the eye?
To prevent transfer of microorganisms to the patient. Cleanse the eyelids and lashes with cotton balls or gauze pledgets moistened with normal saline. Prevent debris to be carried into the eye when the conjunctival sac is exposed.
How many strokes can you use a cotton ball for?
Use each cotton ball or pledget for only one stroke, moving from the inner to the outer canthus of the eye. Prevents carrying of debris to the lacrimal duct. Tilt the patient’s head back slightly if he is sitting or place the head over a pillow if he is lying down.
How to use eye drops?
1. Wash your hands and don gloves. 2. Inspect the eye and ensure it is clean before instilling the drops. Assess for excessive redness or drainage. If exudate is present around the eye, clean it with a warm washcloth. Do this by cleaning at the inner part of the eye to the outer. 3.
How to stop eye drops from leaking?
1. Tell the patient to keep eye closed immediately after instilling the drops ( it is very important they do NOT blink because with causes the medication to flow into the punctum (tear ducts) 2. Then take the index finger and place it at the side of the bridge of the nose at the inner corner of the eye, and place firm but gentle pressure ...
Why is punctal occlusion performed?
This prevents the medication from draining down into the nasal passages via the nasolacri mal duct and eventually to the bloodstream, which decreases the effectiveness of the drug in the eye and can cause systemic signs and symptoms in the body.
How to get rid of a leaky eye?
Pull down the lower eye lid with the thumb or index finger at the cheek bone (keep the finger away from the eye…you don’t want to poke it). Also, it is a good idea to hold a piece of tissue paper in this hand to wipe away any excess that leaks from the eye. 7.
Can you instill eye drops in your eye?
It may seem like instilling eye drops into a patient’s eye is self-explanatory, but there are some very important steps you must follow to do this skill correctly. It is important to keep in mind exactly where the eye drops will be instilled in the eye and if it is necessary to perform punctal occlusion (also called nasolacrimal blockage).
What is eye drop dispensing aid?
Eye drop dispensing aids (Fig 3) can help patients to self-medicate and become inde-pendent in managing their own condition , particularly when it is long term, such as open-angle glaucoma. The dispensing aid must match the patient’s needs and must also fit the eye drop bottle. When patients are prescribed several different eye drops, they will need an aid for each bottle.
Is eye drops generic or proprietary?
Many eye drops are now off licence and a generic product may be prescribed. Generic preparations are generally cheaper than proprietary products; they usually contain the same ingredients but not necessarily in
How to put eye drops in your eye?
Follow these steps to put in your eye drops: Tilt your head back and look up. With one hand, pull your lower eyelid down and away from your eyeball — this makes a “pocket” for the drops. With the other hand, hold the eye drop bottle upside down with the tip just above the pocket. Squeeze the prescribed number of eye drops into the pocket.
How to keep eye drops from draining into nose?
For at least 1 minute, close your eye and press your finger lightly on your tear duct (small hole in the inner corner of your eye) — this keeps the eye drop from draining into your nose.
Can you touch the tip of an eye drop bottle?
Don’t touch the tip of the eye drop bottle with your hands. Don’t let the tip of the eye drop bottle touch your eye or eyelid. If you have trouble putting in eye drops, ask your eye doctor about special tools that can help. Last updated: June 26, 2019.
Where to put eye drops?
Without touching the bottle to your eyelid, put an eye drop in the corner of your eye near your nose.
How to catch eye drops?
Use one hand to pull your lower eyelid down, away from the eye. This forms a pocket to catch the drop. Hold the dropper tip directly over the eyelid pocket. Don’t touch the bottle to your eye or eyelid. This can give bacteria or other contaminants a chance to grow in your eye drops.
What to do if eye drops leak out?
If any drops leaked out, use a tissue to wipe them from your closed eyelids.
How to keep your eyes open when you put eye drops in?
If that's the case, try this method instead: Lean your head back as far as is comfortable, or lay down on a bed or couch. Keep your eyes closed.
Can you use eye drops for glaucoma?
The timing and dosage of your eye drops can make a big difference in your treatment. Whether you’re using drops for glaucoma, dry eye, an infection or an allergy, you must use the drops correctly to get the full benefit. If you’re having trouble getting the drops in or using them on the right schedule, talk to your ophthalmologist about your options.
Can you put eye drops in your eye?
There are many kinds of eye drops, and any of them could be a challenge to get into your eye. But with a few tips and some practice, you’ll get more comfortable with the process. The more familiar and confident you are, the easier it will be to put in eye drops without missing, spilling or using too much. YouTube.
Can you keep eye drops in the refrigerator?
Ask your ophthalmologist or pharmacist if it’s OK to keep the drops in the refrigerator. When the drops are cold it might be easier to feel the drop when it hits the eye, so you can tell where the drop has landed.
BACKGROUND AND EVIDENCE
In 2013, about 40 million Americans cared for an adult with limitations in daily activities, providing an estimated 37 billion hours of care (valued at $470 billion). 3 Family caregivers are a critical component of the U.S. health care system, but many feel unprepared or unsupported in their work. 3
CONSIDERATIONS WHEN TEACHING ADMINISTRATION OF EYE DROPS, TRANSDERMAL PATCHES, AND RECTAL SUPPOSITORIES
Nurses need evidence-based recommendations for teaching family caregivers how to administer medications that are delivered via eye drops, transdermal patches, and rectal suppositories. We provide this information in the context of the “just culture” movement in health care, which is supported by the American Nurses Association.
VIDEO CASE EXAMPLE
Go to http://links.lww.com/AJN/A76 to watch a video in which Angie, the main caregiver for her mother, who has had a stroke, demonstrates caregiving to her younger sister. Angie is planning a much-needed vacation, and her sister, Imani, has offered to care for their mother while Angie is away.
How to Use This Series
Read the article, so you understand how best to help family caregivers manage medications.
REFERENCES
1. Social Security Administration. Nation's first baby boomer files for social security retirement benefits — online! [press release]. 2007 Oct 15. https://www.ssa.gov/pressoffice/pr/babyboomerfiles-pr.htm.
Introduction
Administration Principles
- Eye drops and ointment are prescribed to treat acute or long-term eye conditions and/or the structures surrounding eyes. They are the mainstay of treatment for eye disease as they are administered directly to their site of action and are, therefore, more effective than medications administered orally. They are also used to prevent or treat infection or inflammatory conditions …
Safety Considerations
- After administration of eye drops or ointments, patients must be advised against driving or operating machinery until their vision has cleared and/or their eyes have stopped stinging. Correct medication storage is essential. Some eye drops, such as chloramphenicol, must be stored in a refrigerator before and after opening while others are stored in the refrigerator after opening onl…
Documentation
- The drugs administered should be documented accurately in patients’ notes in accordance with local and national guidance, and nurses should also evaluate the effect of treatment (RCN, 2013; NMC, 2010).
Conclusion
- Nurses, patients and carers must have an up-to-date knowledge and understanding of the therapeutic effects and potential side-effects of the topical drugs they are using for eye conditions. They should also ensure the drugs are used at the correct time and in the correct order (Table 1), with an appropriate time lapse (ideally five minutes) between drugs when more than o…