INSTILLATION OF EYE DROPS

REQUIREMENTS #

1. A tray containing the following:
   • Medication with eye dropper
   • Sterile cotton wool swab in a gallipot
   • Bottle of sterile 0.9% ophthalmic saline
   • Paper towels
2. Treatment Chart (Manual or Electronic)

STEPS #

1. Check for the right patient, right medication, right time, right dose against doctor’s order and treatment chart (manual or electronic) as well as the expiry date
2. Establish rapport (Refer to steps)
3. Explain procedure (Refer to steps)
4. Ensure patient’s right to know/consent and to refuse medication
5. Perform hand hygiene
6. Set tray and send to the bedside
7. Check medication against the treatment chart (manual or electronic) for the right dosage
8. Assist patient to sit in an upright position or lie down with the neck slightly hyper extended
9. Perform hand hygiene and wear gloves
10. Clean eye gently with sterile cotton wool swab soaked in saline solution to remove any discharge or previous ointment
11. Ask patient to look at the ceiling and retract lower eye lid with your dominant hand
12. Place a wool swab on the lower lid against the lid margin
13. Draw up eye drops
14. Supporting eye dropper on bridge of patient’s nose instill medication as ordered onto conjunctival space of lower lid
15. Wipe off excess medication with cotton wool, moving from inner to outer canthus
16. Ask patient to keep the eye closed for one (1) to two (2) minutes
17. Encourage patient to report any irritation or blurriness of vision
18. Remove the gloves and perform hand hygiene
19. Document procedure on nurses’ notes and chart on the treatment chart (manual or electronic)
20. Dispose off used items and decontaminate tray
21. Perform hand hygiene
22. Report to appropriate officer