Tips for using eye drops
It is advisable to follow these tips before using eye drops:
• Eye drops should be applied directly to your eye using the dropper provided. They should not be taken by mouth.
• To avoid contamination, be careful to avoid touching the tip of the dropper to any surface, including your eye.
• After application, the drops may temporarily blur your vision. It is therefore important not to drive or operate machinery until the blurring has cleared completely.
• If you normally use contact lenses, wear glasses instead for the duration of your treatment. Most eye drops contain a preservative that can irritate the eye.
• Eye drops should be thrown away or returned to your pharmacy four weeks after first opening the container. It may be helpful to write the date of opening on the box.
• If you are aware of an allergy to any of the ingredients in the medication, inform your doctor or chemist immediately.
• If your eyes are inflamed, applying eye drops can cause them to sting a little for a while. You shouldn’t worry unnecessarily about this. The reason for the stinging is not the medicine itself, but the germ-killing antiseptic added to make them as safe as possible – some eye drops are used for other eye problems besides hay fever. After a few days, when the drops start taking effect, they should not sting nearly so much. If you are unable to cope with the stinging you may prefer to take your hay fever medication in tablet form instead, which can be equally effective, but with an increased potential for side effects.
• If you experience further side effects from using eye drops, inform your doctor. It is important that you read the information sheet provided with the medication.
• If you are using more than one type of eye drop, the second type may wash away the first if administered immediately afterwards. It is therefore essential to leave an interval of at least five minutes between applications. Any eye gels or ointments you are using should be applied last of all.