Eye Medication Administration
During an eye examination, eyedrops can be used to anesthetize the eye, dilate the pupil to facilitate examination, and stain the cornea to identify corneal abrasions, scars, and other anomalies. Eye medications can also be used to lubricate the eye, treat certain eye conditions (such as glaucoma and infections), protect the vision of neonates, and lubricate the eye socket for insertion of a prosthetic eye.
Understanding the ocular effects of medications is important because certain drugs may cause eye disorders or have serious ocular effects. For example, anticholinergics, which are commonly used during eye examinations, can precipitate acute glaucoma in patients with a predisposition to the disorder.
Equipment
Prescribed eye medication ▪ patient’s medication record and chart ▪ gloves ▪ warm water or normal saline solution ▪ sterile gauze pads ▪ facial tissues ▪ Optional: ocular dressing.
Preparation of Equipment
Make sure the medication is labeled for ophthalmic use.1 Then check the expiration date. Remember to date the container the first time you use the medication.2 Follow your facility’s policy or manufacturer’s recommendations on when to discard an opened eye medication.
If the tip of an eye ointment tube has crusted, turn the tip on a sterile gauze pad to remove the crust.
Implementation
Verify the order on the patient’s medication record by checking it against the doctor’s order as written in the medical record.1
Compare the medication label to the doctor’s order to verify the correct medication, indication, dose, route, and time of administration.1
Confirm the patient’s identity using at least two patient identifiers according to your facility’s policy.6
Check the patient’s medical record for an allergy or other contraindication to the prescribed medication. If an allergy or other contraindication is present, don’t administer the medication; notify the doctor.1
Visually inspect the medication for discoloration or any other loss of integrity. Don’t give the medication if its integrity is compromised.1
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