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For some people, “just use eyedrops” is a simple recommendation, like “take a pill” or “use this lotion.” But some of us can’t “just” use eyedrops; our eyes involuntarily twitch or blink, or we flinch and pull away entirely. I’m one of those people, and I’m happy to report there’s a way to get the drops in anyway.
The easy way to apply eyedrops
I went through several allergy seasons with irritated eyes because I couldn’t reliably get the drops in there, even if I asked my husband to pry my eyes open and just make it happen. (I’d end up with drops streaming down my face and none in my eyes.)
Then, one day, my preschool-aged daughter needed eyedrops. The pediatrician showed us a simple trick, which I wrote about here. And now I can confirm that it works just as well for adults—even for me.
Here’s the trick: you close your eyes when applying the drop. Tilt your head back (or better yet, lie down) and let the drop fall into the corner of your eye. Then, when you open your eye, the drop comes immediately in contact with your eyeball. Job done.
You may need a partner the first time, but I found I can do this myself with a mirror. I line up the dropper with the aid of a mirror, then close my eyes and squeeze. I can tell when the drop has gotten into my eyes because it stings just a tiny bit; if you’re using a type of drop that you can’t feel, the American Academy of Ophthalmology recommends chilling the bottle in the fridge so you can feel the coolness of the refrigerated drop hitting your eye.
And, yes, it’s safe. To be clear, you should never let the tip of the dropper touch your eye or eyelid, or your fingers in the process. And it’s best to wash your hands before doing any eye care. But the idea of letting the eyedrop touch your eyelid on the way in is fine; the AAO recommends exactly this procedure for squirmy children and anxious adults.
