Assisting With Eye Medication or Ointment

Material needed:

• Eye medication or ointment
• Tissue or cotton ball
• Small hand mirror
• Disposable glove, if needed

Procedure:

1. Explain what you are going to do
2. Check care plan and medication sheet
3. Wash your hands
4. Obtain material listed above
5. Help client to wash hands
6. Check label on prescription container for:
   1. A. Right drug
   2. Right client
   3. Right dose
   4. Right route
   5. Right time

7. Loosen lid on container, if client is unable to do so
8. Place container within client reach or hand to him if needed.
9. Hold mirror so client can see to administer eye medication
10. Assist client with:

    Eye medication

    • guide client's hand to grasp lid
    • observe that client looks up and releases drops into lower lid
    • observe that client closes eye to distribute medication
    • make sure that dropper does not touch client's eye

    Ointment

    • guide client's hand to grasp lower lid
    • observe that client looks up and squeezes a small ribbon of ointment into the lower lid from inner corner of eye to outer corner of eye
    • observe that client closes eye to allow medication to melt and be distributed
    • make sure that tip of tube does not touch eye surface

11. Reseal container
12. Have client record medication taken. The caregiver can record if the client is unable to
13. Store medication in proper location
14. Wash your hands
15. Record what you have done. Report any abnormal conditions to the nurse or family member