If you are going to have Lasik or other eye surgery tomorrow, then it is vital that you understand how to safely use your antibiotic eye drops to prevent an infection from forming in your eye's tissue. Since eye infections after surgery can be especially hard to treat and a serious danger to your eyesight, prevention is key. To this end, here are some time-tested tips to help you use your medicated eye drops safely:
Tip: Handle the Medication Bottle Properly
To get the benefits of your antibiotic eye drops without causing yourself any unnecessary issues, you need to carefully handle the medication's bottle. If your hands touch the tip of the dropper, then bacteria will grow and can cause infections. You can avoid contaminating the dropper by only touching the bottle near the bottom and putting the top back on between drops. Putting the top on as soon as you have used the medication also prevents contamination if the bottle happens to fall over or accidentally drop onto the floor.
Tip: Apply Only a Single Drop in Each Eye
If your doctor's instructions are to apply more than one drop into your eye, then you need to apply them one at a time. Let the eye drop sit in your eye for a minute and absorb before you apply the second drop. This technique ensures that you get the maximum benefit of the medication and it doesn't simply run down your cheeks.
Tip: Don't Reuse Your Eye Drops or Share Them with Other People
After your eye surgery is over, your ophthalmologist will give you instructions about how often you should apply the antibiotic drops in your eyes and for how long. Once the time has passed and you are no longer using your antibiotic drops, then you should dispose of them in your household trash. You should not share your medication with any other members of your family, and you should not save the drops for future use. Both of these things can lead to infections or other eye problems.
Tip: Contact Your Ophthalmologist at the First Signs of Infection or Other Issue
Finally, if your eye's surgical site becomes red, painful, or does not heal significantly in a couple of days, then you need to contact your ophthalmologist's office and request an emergency appointment. At your appointment, your eye doctor will check your eye and determine if you need further treatment. For more information, visit a clinic like Mid-America Vision Center.
Share11 October 2016
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