Bilateral eye drops

[haraba]

Hi,

I am aware of the need to apply gentle pressure at the inner aspect of the eye, near the nose ( on the tear duct opening) after administering the eye drop for about a minute. This help there is ensure enough time to work on the eye and to minimise systemic side effects. My question is, do any of us put one drop in each eye and then gently press on both tear ducts or is it imperative to put drops into one eye and go through the process before putting it in the other eye ?

Thanks.

[Cornwalleyes]

That’s an interesting question, I do put both drops in and then press in the corners - but that’s because I’m always in a hurry and I have three drops in each eye in the morning, with a gap between putting them in!

[haraba in reply to Cornwalleyes]

Totally empathise. Thanks for the reply.

[mrswaffle]

I treat each eye as a separate process. I used to find it difficult to just keep still and do nothing else for the required time, but gradually I have come to regard it as “me time” and see the importance of doing it properly. This is easier for me as I am retired, so I am not constantly in a rush. Also, I don’t actually do nothing - I may be listening to music, for instance. I also have an old mobile phone (a “dumb” phone, which I use as a timer) which has a sudoku game, which I can operate with one hand! Or I can read on my kindle. Two minutes goes quite fast in those circumstances! Good luck!

[Ritualhazard in reply to mrswaffle]

I thought you had to close your eyes?

[mrswaffle in reply to Ritualhazard]

Yes, but if you only do one at a time, you still have one eye open!

[Ritualhazard in reply to mrswaffle]

Oh yeah! Such a dumb question 😁

[mrswaffle in reply to Ritualhazard]

No! The only dumb question is the one you don’t ask! 🤗

[haraba in reply to mrswaffle]

You have a well thought out system ! Thank you for your reply.

[EthelPledge94]

Yes I put them in both eyes at the same time and press both tear ducts. It's often a time thing or at night because I'm really tired.

[haraba in reply to EthelPledge94]

Thank you.

[Trish_GlaucomaUK Partner]

Hello Haraba,

It very much depends on how quick you are. If you take your time with putting one drop in and then the other, the time between couldmen that the drops is already entering the tearduct and going to the back of the throat and into the bloodstream. As you can see some of the replies say one eye at a time and some say both eyes.

But the most important thing is getting those drops in and treating your glaucoma.

[haraba in reply to Trish_GlaucomaUK]

Hi Trish,Fortunately, I can put the drops into both eyes within 10 seconds and then apply bilateral pressure to the tear ducts for at least a minute.

I have not missed any drops yet since I started them.

Thanks for your reply.

[pinks223]

I do each eye separately takes bout two minutes I can’t be entirely sure they go in correct but do my best to get them in there .I’m not sure if the procedure is the same as the lanoprost and Timoldol ( bad spelling I don’t remember the correct spelling but try my best to get them in right too

[Gyfers]

Good question! I've wondered this, so thanks for asking and saving me the bother I do both, do them lying in bed listening to a podcast, and manage to get them in fairly quickly and then close both for 2 minutes (I think the packaging says 1 minute but I've read 2 elsewhere and it's much of a muchness really).

Interesting to read the different replies.

[MatthewC]

I'm interested to see these replies. I've not been bothering with pressing on the tear ducts - I know the leaflet says to do it but I dismissed it as unimportant as when I was an inpatient for a couple of weeks none of the nurses did it (nor told me to do it).Based on what you're all saying, I should start with the pressing!

I may ask my consultant for his view next time I see him too.