Eye drops are a solution containing saline and several eye problems are treated using them. Eye drops might not contain medication and may just serve to lubricate or may have steroids, antihistamines, sympathomimetics, beta receptor blockers, prostaglandins, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or topical anesthetics.
When are eye drops used?:
At Vista Eye Specialists in Virginia, our ophthalmologists will prescribe eye drops to address a number of vision issues. Eye drops can be used to treat dry eye or pink eye, provide allergy relief, ease after surgery pain, and soothe general redness or itching. In some cases, eye drops are provided after cataract surgery to help prevent an infection.
Eye drops come in a wide-variety of medications and solutions depending on the desired treatment. Common brands such as Visine and Refresh can be purchased from drug store while more advanced medications such as Vistalens eye drops require a prescription from your eye doctor.
Eye drops are useful to lubricate the eyes when contact lenses cause dryness. If corneal infection develops due to poor lens hygiene fortified antibiotic eye drops are used as treatment.
Properly using eye drops
It is important to wash your hands properly before using eye drops. Stand in front of a mirror, take off the top of the bottle. Lean back and gently pull your lower eyelid down. Holding the dropper above one eye, squeeze one drop at a time. Make sure you administer the number of drops as prescribed by the eye doctors at Vista Eye Specialists. Ensure that dropper tip does not come in contact with a foreign substance or your eye.
Close your eyes for a few minutes after applying eye drops with your head tilted down towards the floor. Gently wipe away any liquid that falls out of the eye. Repeat the procedure with the other eye if prescribed.
Vista Eyes Specialists, VA advises not to use anyone else’s drops yourself and dispose the bottle after the recommended time which is usually four weeks after first opening the bottle. Experiencing a taste of eye drops in your mouth or throat is normal but press on the tear duct for a minute or so after applying the drop.
If you feel any discomfort in your eyes don’t hesitate to take an appointment from our eye doctors at Vista Eye Specialists, Culpeper and Fredericksburg, who will prescribe the eye drops best suited to cure your eye conditions.
