Any tips for administering eye drops?

Geekchick921

We just put them in for the first time and it took both of us to hold her down and pry her eyelids open.  Good Lord.

LondonBridges

When DS had pinkeye, I found it was easiest to do when he was sleeping.  He slept right through it.

mieuxmieux

Aim for the corner of the eye, that way it won't bother her as much as a cold drop hitting her eye ball.

Brewtowngrl

I wrapped DS in a blanket/towel because I always had to get them in by myself. 

MegGary

Distraction. DH would do something to get her attention while I dropped them in. That or if her eyes where shut real tight I'd drop a couple in the corner so when her eyes opened it went in.

It's how I am able to give myself them as well. I can't do drops any other way.

lisaohgee

Eyes don't need to be open....just drop it in the corner and they blink it in.  That's what PJ did anyway.

ErinNConnorsMom

Heh.  I'm the eye drop administering pro.  We've done atropine drops daily for Erin on and off since she was about 2. 

The technique that works best for me is to have the child lie down, and use my right fist (which is holding the eye drops) to gently pull down the lower lid and use my left hand to pull up the upper lid.

I don't blame your poor LO for struggling.  Eye drops are no fun.  Good luck!

mkaltsas

Just popping over from 6-12. When we went for an infant eye exam and they had to dilate his eyes they had me hold him so his head was tipped down. Not totally upside down but his head was lower than his feet and then hold his hands. They were able to quickly put the drops in that way. Hope that helps.

helovesme22506

I had to do them with my DD and the ped told me the same thing another poster said - just put the drops in the inside corner of the eye and they will
fall or be blinked in".

preg_amy

Ok, this is going to sound cruel, but this is actually what the ENT recommended for giving DS his ear drops.  They have an illustration in the brochure they give you after tubes.

I also use it for eye drops.

You lie the child down and you sit behind their head.  Put your legs out to hold down their arms, and their head will be cradled between your thighs.  That way, they can't bat your hand away with their arms, and their head is in a steady position, but not completely immobile.  Then you should be able to open the eye with one hand and administer the drops with the other.

Writing it out sounds worse than it actually is.  But if they really need the eye drops and are fighters (like my DS), then you just have to suck it up and do it quick to get it over with.

Jen&Len

for kids, we usually advise to have them close their eyes and put the drop right at the corner closest to the nose...when they open their eyes, the drop should slide right into their eyes.