Ophthalmic (Eye) – Medication Administration

Medications via the ophthalmic route: The giving of pharmaceutical or therapeutic agents via the eye. Ophthalmic eye medications are applied using a sterile technique. This is one of the few routes that requires more than medical asepsis/ clean technique.

CSS Considerations:

  • Delegation of prescribed eye drops are applicable to clients with chronic conditions where application of eye drops are required daily
  • Administration of post-cataract eye drops are not permitted
  • PSWs can support with eye drops that are long term use and considered part of the client’s routine activities of daily living (ADLs)

PSW Considerations:

  • Eye drops may be used to treat eye disorders (e.g. Glaucoma)
  • Report any adverse reactions to the office at 416-635-2860:
    • Blurred vision
    • Minor burning
    • Stinging
    • Irritation
  • Report refusals to the office at 416-635-2860, do not force client to take eye drops

CSS to complete re-assessment in 6 months (general considerations):

Follow the 10 rights of medication:

  1. Right client
  2. Right medication
  3. Right dose
  4. Right frequency
  5. Right route
  6. Right reason
  7. Right site
  8. Right time
  9. Right documentation
  10. Right to refuse

Required Supplies:

  • Soap and water (hand hygiene)
  • Gloves
  • Eye medication
  • Clean tissue

Procedure for Administering Eye Medications:

  1. Wash hands thoroughly with soap. Put on gloves.
  2. Position the client comfortably in a sitting position or in a supine position.
  3. Do not touch the tip of the medication dropper.
  4. Have the client tilt their head back. Instruct the client to look up and away to prevent the tip of the tube or dropper from touching the client’s eye.
  5. Rest your hand against the client’s forehead to steady it.
  6. Hold the lower eyelid of the appropriate eye down. Do not press on the eyeball.
  7. Instill the ordered number of drops into the eye.
    a. To administer an ointment, pull down the lower lid and squeeze the ointment into the conjunctival space from the inner to the outer canthus of the eye. Do not let the tip of the tube or dropper touch the client’s eye.
  8. Instruct the client to close their eyes, then roll their eyes and blink. Blinking will spread the drops and rolling the closed eyes will spread the ointment over the eye.
  9. Clean off any excess drops or ointment gently using a facial tissue from the inner part of the eye to the outer part of the client’s eye(s).
  10. Wait 5-10 minutes before instilling another eye medication if necessary or instructed. Use new gloves if instilling more eye drops.
  11. Remove gloves and wash hands.

Video Resource

Please click on the video below for a visual demonstration of the procedure:

References:

Burke, A. (2023). Medication administration: NCLEX-RN.
https://www.registerednursing.org/nclex/medication-administration/#preparing-administering-medications-using-rights-medication-administration

Healthwise (2022). Eyedrops.
https://myhealth.alberta.ca/Health/Pages/conditions.aspx?hwid=zm6234#:~:text=To%20use%20eyedrops%2C%20tilt%20your,least%205%20minutes%20between%20eyedrops

Potter, P., Perry, A. G., Stockert, P., Hall, A. (2019). Canadian fundamentals of
nursing (6th ed,. Astle, B. J., & Duggleby, W. Eds.). Elsevier Canada.

TCC ADN RN Program: Nursing Skills. (2014, December 31). Administering eye drops
[Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/OPysGXkdDho