Looking after your eyes when inserting Eye drops! - Glaucoma UK

Glaucoma UK

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Looking after your eyes when inserting Eye drops!

HMThai profile image
4 Replies

Nearly all of us who have eye problems use eye medications of some sort. Please always remember to insert the drops whilst lying down for maximum benefit.A fact that only 20 % of the eye drop is needed to reduce the eye pressure effectively.The remainder is wasted.This is where Punctual Occlusion is very important and must be done correctly so as not have any residual medication in the blood stream and down into the sinuses.

After inserting the drops, wait 5 minutes (good time to do some deep breathing and 'Insight'!❣️). After this time to rinse around the eyes to wash out any remaining medicine which if not done will dry and cause irritation and is unhealthy causing black circles around the eyes!! Moist eyes lashes are very necessary and important at all times!At bedtime dab a tiny bit of virgin coconut oil around the eye lashes and around the eyes.In the morning I use my little finger with warm water to soothe the outside of eyes,I also use seawater to gently splash in the eyes! Those of you have eye irritation and stinging from the drops should use Vislube which protects the cornea and keeping the eyes moist! Hope this is useful!I enjoyed writing this!A storm coming soon.... Greetings from Thailand and monsoons.

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HMThai
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HMThai profile image
HMThai

Sorry I should have also said keeping eye lids moist at all times is extremely important and necessary as we all age!

Helen_GlaucomaUK profile image
Helen_GlaucomaUKAdministrator

Thank you HMThai for sharing your way of instilling your eye drops.

However, it isn't a necessity to instil your drops lying down and the other ways of instilling drops whilst sitting down is just as effective. We recommend that one to two minutes closing off the tear duct after the drop has been put into the eye. Five minutes won't cause problems but not everyone has that time. I agree with you that washing around the eye afterwards can help reduce some of the side effects caused by some drops ie. skin colour change around the eye. I would also just like to clarify that the eye itself should not be rinsed with water or seawater.

Artificial tears for dry eyes can be helpful but shouldn't be put in the eyes for about half an hour after putting the glaucoma drops in. There are many different drops on the market and it is a case of finding one that suits your eye, if you are suffering from dry eyes. It isn't a necessity for the eyelashes to be moist and there is a danger that some of the solution you use could enter the eye.

I hope the storm you were expecting wasn't a bad one.

Wales99 profile image
Wales99

Hi. Thank you for this. I have been putting my eye drops in without tipping my head back because I find this easier. Everything I watch however, seems to suggest you should always tip your head back. I’m worried now I’ve been doing it wrong! I’m only a week diagnosed so haven’t been using them for long. From now on I will be tipping my head back. 😊.

HMThai profile image
HMThai in reply to Wales99

Great you are doing this, here is a link which will help you!

glaucoma.org/treatment/putt...

I actually prefer putting my eye drops lying down, having good thoughts and just making this a part of life even that I feel these drops sometimes control my life, having been using them for 10 years!(Just had my tested yesterday and another consultation next week 350 kms away from home....never a dull moment!! 😂...... Good day from Thailand.....Share your diagnosis and begin to learn from the internet, plenty of educational videos around for all eye conditions!

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