Glaucoma is a dangerous eye disease that can affect your vision. According to the Mayo Clinic, glaucoma is the second-leading cause of blindness. Severe eye pain, nausea and loss of peripheral vision are some symptoms of this dreadful disease. Medicated eye drops lower the pressure in the eye and serve as the initial treatment for glaucoma. They work to increase eye drainage and decrease the production of aqueous humor (a type of watery fluid in the eye between the colored part of your eye and thin layer covering your eye).
Step 1
Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water. Dry them well.
Step 2
Bend your head backward and look up at the ceiling.
Step 3
Hold the medicated glaucoma eye drop bottle in your dominant hand and remove the cap on the upper portion of the bottle.
Step 4
Use your non-dominant forefinger to gently pull your lower right eyelid.
Step 5
Turn the bottle upside-down and squeeze the bottle to apply one drop of medicine into your right eye. Apply the drop into the pocket created when you pulled down your eyelid.
Step 6
Close your right eye for about 2 minutes to ensure the medication reaches your eye. Do not blink or tightly squeeze your eye, as this can remove the medication from your eye.
Step 7
Apply your right finger over the tear duct located at the left corner of your right eye. Hold your finger there for 2 minutes to prevent the medicine from moving to your tear duct.
Step 8
Use tissue to dab the area around your eye if medicine inadvertently streams out of your eye.
Step 9
Wait 5 minutes before applying a second eye drop to your right eye. Apply as many eye drops as your doctor recommends.
Step 10
Repeat steps 1 to 8 to apply drops to your left eye.
Tips and Warnings
- Cap the eye drop bottle immediately after use and store at room temperature far from the reach of children. Do not touch the eye-drop bottle to your eye, as this can invite bacteria into the medicine.
Things You'll Need
- Medicated glaucoma eye drops
- Mirror
- Tissue
