Instillation of eye drops and eye ointment..

1. INSTILLATION OF EYE
DROPS &
EYE OINTMENT

2. Definition
 Eye drop instillation is the dispensation of a
sterile ophthalmic medication into a patient’s
eye.

3. Purposes
 To treat a number of eye disorders
 To anesthetize an eye before treatment.
 During a routine eye examination
 During treatment for ocular disease.
 Diagnose ocular disease
 Treat glaucoma, uveitis, allergic reactions and
infections.
 Dilatory eye drops may be instilled during an
examination to achieve a better view of the retina.

4. Indications
 Eye examination and treatment of
disease.
Contraindications
 Allergies to the medications.

5. Charting
 Record time on which the medication was
instilled.
 Type, strength and amount (dosage) of the
medication
 The eye onto which the medication was
instilled.

6. Equipment
 Sterile solution of medication
 Small gauze squares or cotton balls
 Gloves

7. Safety considerations
 Perform hand hygiene.
 Check room for additional precautions.
 Introduce yourself to patient.
 Confirm patient ID using two patient identifiers (e.g., name
and date of birth).
 Check allergy band for any allergies.
 Complete necessary focused assessments and/or vital signs,
and document
 Provide patient education as necessary.
 Plan medication administration to avoid disruption:
 Dispense medication in a quiet area.
 Avoid conversation with others.
 Follow agency’s no-interruption zone policy.
 Prepare medications for ONE patient at a time.

8. Nursing Interventions & Rationale
 The following are the nursing interventions
and rationale for instilling eye drops.

9. Nursing Interventions
 Check the patient’s
name
 Check physician’s
directives.
 Wash hands prior to
instilling medication.
 Cleanse the eyelids
and lashes with cotton
balls or gauze pledgets
moistened with normal
saline.
Rationale
 For proper patient
identification.
 To avoid medication
error.
 To prevent transfer of
microorganisms to the
patient.
 Prevent debris to be
carried into the eye
when the conjunctival
sac is exposed.

10.  Use each cotton ball or
pledget for only one stroke,
moving from the inner to
the outer canthus of the
eye.
 Tilt the patient’s head back
slightly if he is sitting or
place the head over
a pillow if he is lying
down.
 Fill eye dropper with
medication but prevent
from flowing back into the
bulb end.
 Prevents carrying of debris
to the lacrimal duct.
 To prevent solution or tear
from flowing towards the
other eye.
 Loose particles of rubber
from bulb end may slip into
medication

11.  Using forefinger, pull lower
lid down gently.
 Instruct patient to look
upward.
 Hold the dropper close to
the eye but avoid touching
the eyelids.
 Allow the prescribed
number of drops to fall in
the lower conjunctival sac
but do not allow to fall onto
the cornea.
 To expose inner surface of
lid and cul-de-sac.
 Prevent medication from
sensitive cornea.
 Touching the eyelids may
startle the patient and
cause him to blink.
 It cases unpleasant
sensation to the patient or
may injure the cornea.

12.  Release the lower lid
after the drops are
instilled. Instruct the
patient to close eyes
slowly, move the eye
and not to squeeze or
rub.
 Wipe off excess solution
with gauze or cotton
balls.
 Wash hands after
instilling the medication.
 Squeezing or rubbing
may irritate the eye
tissue or would express
the medication from the
eye. Closing and
moving the eye allow
medicines to be
distributed over the eye.
 Prevents possible skin
irritation.
 Prevents transfer of
microorganisms to self
or to other patients.

13.  Eye ointment: Apply about 1.5 cm of
ointment along conjunctival sac,
moving from inner to outer canthus.

14. THANK YOU