What is the correct technique to administer a single dose of eye drops?

• A. Tilt the head back, pull down the lower eyelid, place one drop into the conjunctival sac without touching the eye or bottle; wait between medications if needed.
• B. Tilt the head back, pull down the lower eyelid, place two drops into the conjunctival sac
• C. Tilting the head back, pulling down the lower eyelid, then touching the dropper to the eye
• D. Tilt the head forward, move the eyelids, and drop near the inner corner

Answer: (A)

Administering eye drops correctly means delivering the medication into the conjunctival sac without touching the eye or the bottle. Sit or tilt the head back slightly and use one finger to pull the lower eyelid down, creating a small pocket. Squeeze one drop into that pocket, not directly onto the cornea or the lashes. After releasing the eyelid, have the person close the eye gently and, if needed, press on the inner corner of the eye for about a minute. This helps keep the drop in the eye and reduces systemic absorption. If other drops are prescribed, wait a few minutes before applying them so the first drop isn’t washed out.

The other approaches aren’t correct because adding more than one drop at once isn’t appropriate for a single dose, touching the dropper to the eye risks contamination and injury, and aiming at or near the inner corner without correctly depositing into the conjunctival sac won’t ensure proper delivery.