Instillation of Eye Medications
Nursing Action
Preparatory Phase
1. Inform the patient of the need and reason
for instilling drops or ointment.
2. Allow the patient to sit with head tilted
backward or to lie in a supine position.
3. Verify the patient’s identification.
4. Check written prescription and bottle, vial,
or tube for correct medication.
5. Check prescription, designating eye
requiring drops.
6. Wash hands before instilling medication.
Performance Phase
1. Remove cap from container and place on
clean surface.
2. If eyedropper is used, fill eyedropper with
medication by squeezing bulb.
3. Using forefinger, pull on skin below lower
lid
4. Instruct patient to look upward.
5. Drop medication amount prescribed into
center of lower lid (cul-de-sac) (see Figure
A).
Rationale
1. Allays fear and enlists cooperation.
2. Provides a position of comfort and safety
for the patient and accessibility for the
nurse.
3. Prevents error.
4. Avoids medication error.
5. Order may be written with abbreviation.
6. OD (oculus dexter)—right eye OS (oculus
sinister)—left eye OU (oculus uterque)—
both eyes
7. Prevents transfer of microorganisms to
patient.
1. Prevents contamination of lid.
2. Eye droppers are used less frequently than
dropper bottles.
3. Exposes inner surface of lid and cul-de-
sac.
4. Prevents medication from hitting sensitive
cornea and prevents blephorospasm.
5. Prevents medication from hitting sensitive
cornea.
 6. If ointment is to be instilled, squeeze out 8
– -inch ribbon of medication (size of grain
of rice) from the tube into the lower lid
without touching the eye with the end of
the tube (see Figure B).
7. Instruct patient to close eyes slowly but
not to squeeze or rub them. Open eye.
8. Clear any excess medication with gauze or
tissues.
9. If additional eye drops are ordered, wait
30 seconds between each drop.
Nursing Alert: Parietal occlusion (place finger over lacrimal duct for 1 minute) may be necessary
after instilling drops if systemic absorption is to be avoided, prolonged corneal contact is desired,
or taste or smell of medication is distressing.
Follow-up Phase
1. Wash hands after instilling medication.
2. Record time, type, strength, and amount of
medication and the eye into which
medication was instilled.
6. Prevents contamination of the tube.
Avoids dispensing excessive ointment;
clouds vision.
7. Squeezing or rubbing would express
medication from eye and increase lacrimal
drainage from the eye; closing allows
medication to be distributed evenly over
eye.
8. Prevents possible skin irritation.
9. Allows time for absorption of medication.
1. Prevents transfer of microorganisms to self
or other patients.
2. Provides documentation in the medication
record.