Putting glaucoma eyedrops in

[Bigbrother-8]

Just been diagnosed with glaucoma but I just cannot put eye drops in,husband is putting them in for me but I need to try to put them in myself but I get so anxious.

[Chocolady]

Putting drops in can be daunting at first but please be assured it will become second nature to you with practice. I have been doing it myself for over 40 years and it frustrates me that patients still don't get adequate guidance on how to administer eye drops. You will find a really good guide via the Glaucoma UK website which gives you a couple of options to try to find which is the most suitable technique for you. I still don't always get a direct hit with the first try even after all of this time! If it's appropriate for you to use a lubricant drop, you could practice with those in between doses of your medication. There are also aids available and again you will find details of these on the website. I'm sure once you are feeling more informed and more used to your treatment you will have the confidence to master putting the drops in yourself. In the meantime, there is no harm in getting help from a willing partner.

[Bigbrother-8 in reply to Chocolady]

Thank you for kind words.

[Tschuggen]

Hi, I have been there myself! Good advice from Chocolady. There is no harm in someone else helping - the most important thing is letting the drops do their work. Don’t be too hard on yourself - you have just been diagnosed and there will be a lot to take in. My wife put my drops in to begin with and, once the hospital confirmed that the drops were working, I started to do it myself occasionally and then built up from there. (Don’t know what others do, but I have a walk clock with a loud tick that I use to count down the seconds when I need to keep my eyes closed).

[Bigbrother-8 in reply to Tschuggen]

Thank you.

[Dorset22]

It isn’t easy putting in eye drops. I have Monopost single dose drops for high eye pressure. I also get my husband to put mine in but have done it myself. It seems to be holding eye pressures. Try not to worry. Good luck.

[Bigbrother-8 in reply to Dorset22]

Thanks.

[Moana64]

just tilt your head back, no need to lie down …if a little runs down your face that’s ok, you will get better at it.

Better to do it yourself

[Bigbrother-8 in reply to Moana64]

I have tried tilting my head back whilst husband puts them in but keep shutting my eye so I lie down and he puts them in,but will persevere with trying myself.

[Dumyat26]

I had the same difficulty to begin with (10 years ago). I found that keeping drops in fridge helped as the cold drop was much easier to feel as it went in the eye.

And I do them at the bathroom mirror so can see where the bottle is.

[Bigbrother-8 in reply to Dumyat26]

Thanks for advice.

[Ripley001]

Hi, I’ve been using them for about a year now and I look in the mirror and drop them in sideways rather than tilting my head back; I tilt my head to the side, pull my eye down slightly and drop them in from the corner so it runs into my eye from one side .

[Bigbrother-8 in reply to Ripley001]

Might give this way a try,thanks.

[Ripley001 in reply to Bigbrother-8]

It does sometimes run down my cheek a bit but I find it easier doing it that way . My pressures have kept low so I must be getting the right amount in . Hope it helps

[JustAmanda]

I think you may be worrying unnecessarily. You don’t actually need much of the drops for them to work effectively.

I simply tilt my head, standing, then point the vial into the corner of my eyes and gently squeeze. Drops always roll down my cheek but for years they’ve effectively done their work. Once in, I leave my eyes closed for about five seconds, then blink.

I guess I do it very imprecisely, but I want to resssure you that imprecise still works for me.

[Bigbrother-8 in reply to JustAmanda]

Thank you for your advise,makes me feel a bit better knowing it's ok that a wee bit can run out.

[Decorator123]

you will get better at putting them in We were all bad at first and still are at times 5 years of doing it sometimes I look like an expert bottle out glasses of pop a drop in all while in a pub Other times it like am back at day one miss by a mile and take me two over 3 goes.

[Bigbrother-8 in reply to Decorator123]

That made smile.thanks

[LondonStadium]

Hi Very good advice from all who have replied and I think we all know how you feel but it will get easier over time and become second nature when putting your eye drops in , I've been doing it for nearly 25 years but struggled at first so just take your time and you will be fine .

[PeterRabbit62 in reply to LondonStadium]

It will get better just follow instructions in the box, Ytube show videos of using drops in eyes as well, been doing mine for a 11 years now, we all struggled at first just remember we are all in the same boat, it will come, best wishes.

[Bigbrother-8 in reply to PeterRabbit62]

Thank you

[Bigbrother-8 in reply to LondonStadium]

Thank you, hopefully will master it.

[Bigbrother-8 in reply to LondonStadium]

Thanks, practice makes perfect.

[KayGeeBee]

I found that different bottles suited different techniques. e.g. for my right eye for some designs I would hold the bottle in my right hand and pull down the eyelid with the left. Some bottles are hard to squeeze and I'd vary which part of the thumb I'd hold it in as I can get more force with different grips. But with some small bottles I might hold the bottle in my left hand and pull the eyelid down with the right. For this method I'd initially hold the bottle upright between left thumb and index finger, then hold it over my right eye, resting the index finger along the eyebrow and thumb on the nose. I'm not sure that I've seen this method illustrated but it worked for me. (Take care not to poke your eye with the tip though). Try experimenting with other techniques. And I always put in drops in front of a mirror whenever practical - it really helps! If you are considering keeping the drops in the fridge, so that you have a better feel for when the drop has gone in, first check its lowest storage temperature - some can't be kept that low. And don't worry if you aren't 100% successful, few people are I suspect.

[Revnon100]

I wedge myself in a corner of the kitchen by the fridge [ where drops are stored] and look up at one of the over head kitchen spotlights. Some days I'm much more accurate than others.It can be very frustrating. Relax!! Also depends on the design of the eye dropper.