Administering Ophthalmic Medication

Administering Ophthalmic Medication

Equipment
■ Eye drops or ointment.
■ Tissue.

Assessment
■ Assess the eyes for redness, drainage, or other signs of irritation or pain.
■ Determine the patient’s ability to cooperate with the procedure.
■ Assess whether the eyes need to be cleansed before administration of the medication.
■ Be Safe! Check the prescription for where to instill medication. (Note: We do not advise using these abbreviations they have been disallowed by The Joint Commission but you may still see them written in prescriptions: OD = right eye; OS = left eye; OU = both eyes.)

Key Points
■ Use a high-Fowler’s position, with the head slightly tilted back.
■ Work from the inner to outer canthus when cleansing or instilling medication.
■ Apply the medication into the conjunctival sac.
■ Be Safe! Do not apply the medication to the cornea.
■ Be Smart! Do not let the dropper or tube touch the eye.
■ For eye drops, press gently against the same side of the nose for 1 to 2 minutes to close the lacrimal ducts.
■ For eye ointment, ask the patient to gently close the eyes for 2 to 3 minutes.

Documentation
■ Document:
■ Medication, time, dose, and route given.
■ Assessment.
■ Therapeutic and adverse drug effects.
■ Nursing interventions, and teaching.
■ Assessment data before, during, and after instillation.
■ Be Safe! Record scheduled medications on the MAR and PRN medications in the nursing notes. For PRN medications, include reason given and response.
■ Be Smart! When a drug is not administered, document that on the MAR along with the reason, and inform the prescriber.
■ Be Safe! Do not document before giving the drug. Do not document for anyone else or ask them to document for you.

Instilling ophthalmic drops into the eye

Instilling ophthalmic ointment into the eye

Press lacrimal ducts to reduce systemic absorption