Administering Eye and Ear Drops

1. Bring equipment to patient’s bedside.

2. Identify the person by checking the identification band on the patient's wrist and
asking the patient his or her name. Ask the patient about any allergies.
3.Explain the procedure to the patient.
4.Perform hand hygiene and don gloves.
5.Offer tissue to patient.
6.Cleanse the eyelids and eyelashes of any drainage with a washcloth moistened with
normal saline solution proceeding from the inner canthus to the outer canthus. Use
each area of the washcloth only once.
7.Tilt the patient's head back slightly. The head may be turned slightly to the affected
side.
8.Remove the cap from the medication bottle, being careful to not touch the inner side
of the cap.
9.Invert the monodrip plastic container that is commonly used to instill eyedrops. Have
the patient look up while focusing on something on the ceiling.
10.Place the thumb or two fingers near the margin of the lower eyelid immediately
below the eyelashes and exert pressure downward over the bony prominence of the
cheek. The lower conjunctival sac is exposed as the lower lid is pulled down.
11.Hold the dropper close to the eye, but avoid touching the eyelids or lashes. Squeeze
the container and allow the prescribed number of drops to fall in the lower conjunctival
sac.
12.Release the lower lid after the eyedrops are instilled. Ask the patient to close the
eyes gently.
13.Apply gentle pressure over the inner canthus to prevent the eyedrops from flowing
into the tear duct.
14.Instruct patient not to rub affected eye.
15.Remove gloves and perform hand hygiene.

16.Cleanse the external ear of any drainage with a cotton ball or a washcloth moistened
with normal saline.
17.Place the patient on the unaffected side in bed or, if ambulatory, have the patient sit
with the head well tilted to the side so that the affected ear is uppermost.
18.Draw up the amount of solution needed in the dropper. Excess medication should
not be returned to a stock bottle. A prepackaged monodrip plastic container may also be
used.
19.Straighten the auditory canal by pulling the cartilaginous portion of the pinna up and
back in an adult and down and back in an infant or a child under the age of 3 years.
20.Hold the dropper in the ear with its tip above the auditory canal. For an infant or an
irrational or confused patient, protect the dropper with a piece of soft tubing to help
prevent injury to the ear.
21.Allow the drops to fall on the side of the canal.
22.Release the pinna after instilling the drops and have the patient maintain the position
to prevent the escape of medication.
23.Gently press on the tragus a few times.
24.If ordered, loosely insert a cotton ball into ear canal.
25.Remove gloves and perform hand hygiene.
26.Document the medication administration and any drainage from the ear noted. The
medication documentation may be done on CMAR.