Easily master the tips for children to use eye drops

Author: Li Chunyan, Department of Ophthalmology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University

Sun Xuena, Ophthalmology Center, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University

He Ye, Ophthalmology Center, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University

Reviewer: Min Xiaoshan, Chief Physician of Ophthalmology Center, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University

When parents put eye drops in their children’s eyes, have you ever had this experience? When they don’t use eye drops, the mother and the child are affectionate and loving, hugging and hugging each other; when they put in eye drops, the whole family is in a state of panic, with the dogs howling and screaming…

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This will not only waste eye drops and reduce the treatment effect, but may even scratch the child's eyes and cause infection ! If a child does not cooperate with eye drops, it may be related to incorrect method of eye drops, the child's nervousness and fear, and some eye drops may irritate the eyes.

So, how can we give children eye drops correctly and easily? Dig and dig, and you will find a good way to give children eye drops!

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The key to correct eye drops

Key point 1 : Aim at the lower eye socket

The key to easy eye drops is not to drop the eye drops directly on the black eyeball (iris). Because the black eyeball is rich in nerve endings and is very sensitive. Dropping eye drops directly on the black eyeball will not only irritate the eyes and cause discomfort, but also cause reflexive eye closure, squeezing out the eye drops that have been dropped in.

The correct method : Sit or lie flat, tilt your head back slightly, look toward the top of your head, use your fingers to gently pull down your lower eyelid, and drop eye drops into the small depression formed by the lower eyelid and the white of the eyeball (sclera).

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Key point 2 : Press the inner corner of the eye

Another key to easy eye drops is to use your fingers to gently press the inner corner of the eye for 1 to 2 minutes. Because some eye drops are bitter, pressing the inner corner of the eye can temporarily close the channel for tears to flow out, preventing the eye drops from flowing into the throat and mouth and tasting bitter. Pressing the inner corner of the eye may also reduce the side effects of eye drops!

Tips to relieve children's nervousness and fear

Tip 1 : Demonstrate

Parents can demonstrate by dropping eye drops into their own eyes and tell their children that it will feel cool when dropped into the eyes, and there will be no pain, itching or other discomfort. Then drop a drop on the back of the child's hand to let them feel that it does not hurt to drop eye drops, so as to reduce the child's tension and fear.

Tip 2 : Scenario Games

You can play the "Thirsty Eyes" game with your child. By asking them questions like "What should you do if you are thirsty?" and "What will happen if you don't drink water when you are thirsty?", you can guide your child to accept that "If your eyes are thirsty, you need eye drops".

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Tip 3 : Distract Your Attention

You can divert your child's attention by talking to him/her about topics of interest, telling stories, listening to his/her favorite music, watching his/her favorite animation, etc., and take the opportunity to put eye drops in him/her.

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After applying the eye drops, remember to give your child a big hug and sweet encouragement!

Other tips

Tip 1 : Use eye drops after going to bed

You can put eye drops 15 to 30 minutes after the child falls asleep. At this time, the child is in deep sleep and is not easily awakened. You can hold the eye drops in your hand to warm them before putting them in to reduce irritation.

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Tip 2 : Apply eye drops to the inner corner of the eye

The child gently closes his eyes, cleans the skin around the eyes first , then drops the eye drops into the inner corner of the eye, and then ask the child to blink slowly, so that the eye drops flow into the eyes. Remember not to let the mouth of the eye drops bottle touch the skin around the eyes and eyelashes.

However, if there is an infectious disease in the skin at the corner of the eye (such as blepharitis) or a wound on the eye, be cautious when using the method of placing eye drops in the inner corner of the eye , because this method may bring pathogens from the eyelid edge or skin into the eye.

If you are worried about using eye drops for your child, try this now!

Other considerations for correct eye drops

1. Clean your hands. Cut long nails and wash your hands before applying eye drops. If there is a lot of eye secretions, wipe them off first to prevent bacterial contamination.

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2. One drop at a time . Since the capacity of the conjunctival sac of the eye is limited, 1 to 2 drops of eye drops are sufficient each time. More drops will not enhance the efficacy and will also waste the medicine.

3. Close your eyes for a while After applying the eye drops, gently close your eyes for 1 to 2 minutes, but do not blink, rub or squeeze your eyes to prevent the eye drops from being squeezed out. If the eye drops flow out of the eye, wipe them off with a clean tissue.

4. Interval is required If you need to use multiple eye drops, in order to avoid the latter solution washing away the previous solution, you need to leave an interval of 5 to 10 minutes between the two eye drops to facilitate full absorption of the solutions.

5. One person, one use Eye drops should be used by one person. Do not share eye drops with others to avoid cross infection.

6. Store in a cool place. Eye drops need to be kept in a cool, dark place. If there are special storage conditions for eye drops, they should be stored strictly according to the requirements of the instructions.

7. Please follow the doctor's instructions. When using eye drops, you should strictly follow the doctor's instructions. You cannot increase or decrease the dosage, change the frequency of use, or stop taking the medicine on your own.

8. Pay attention to the expiration date. The shelf life of eye drops is different before and after opening. The shelf life on the drug packaging refers to the expiration date before opening. After opening, most eye drops have a shelf life of 28 days. It is not recommended to continue using them after 28 days, even if the eye drops are not used up. For special types of eye drops, the specific shelf life needs to be followed by the doctor's advice or the instructions.

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