Skill 28
Eye Medications
Drops and Ointment
The eye is the most sensitive organ to which you apply medications. The cornea is richly supplied with sensitive nerve fibers. Care must be taken to prevent instilling medication directly onto the cornea. The conjunctival sac is much less sensitive and thus a more appropriate site for medication instillation.
Any patient receiving topical eye medications should learn correct self-administration of the medication, especially patients with glaucoma, who must often undergo lifelong medication administration for control of their disease. Nurses can easily instruct patients while administering medications. Family caregivers may need to administer eye medications when a patient is unable to manipulate an applicator, when a patient has recently undergone eye surgery, or when a patient’s vision is so impaired that it is difficult to assemble needed supplies and handle applicators correctly.
Delegation Considerations
The skill of administering eye medications cannot be delegated to nursing assistive personnel (NAP). The nurse directs the NAP about:
▪ Potential side effects of medications and when to report their occurrence.
▪ The potential for temporary visual impairment after administration of eye medications.
