You have been prescribed a medication for your eye(s). It is very important that you know the correct way to use your eye medication.

You have been diagnosed with______________________________________.

The health of your eyes is important:

1. Use good handwashing techniques and try not to rub your eyes with your fingers.
2. Clean your contact lenses regularly with contact cleaning solution. Do not put your contacts in your mouth to moisten. Change and remove your contacts as recommended by the manufacturer.
3. Wear sunglasses in bright sunshine.
4. Use eye goggles when working and playing sports to ensure extra protection.
5. Change your eye makeup often. Mascara, eye shadow, and eyeliner grow bacteria. Do not share makeup.

1. Correct use of your medication is important.
2. You may or may not require an eye patch or shield.

HOW TO APPLY EYE OINTMENT

1. Always wash your hands before placing medication in your eyes.
2. Gently pull down the lower eyelid.
3. Make a small pocket between the eyeball and the eyelid.
4. If you have someone helping to put your eye ointment in the lower lid pocket, look up and away while he or she puts in the medicine.
5. Do not let the tube of medicine touch the eye or eyelid.
6. Squeeze a thin ribbon of the medication into the pocket of the eyelid.
7. Start at the inner fold of the eye going from the nose to the outer eye.
8. Let go of the eyelid and blink to spread the medication.

HOW TO INSTILL EYE DROPS

1. Always wash your hands before placing medication in your eyes.
2. Gently pull down the lower eyelid.
3. Make a small pocket between the eyelid and the eyeball.
4. If you have someone helping to put your eye drops in the lower lid pocket, look up and away while he or she puts in the medicine.
5. Do not let the bottle of medication touch the eye or eyelid.
6. Squeeze the prescribed number of drops of the medicine into the pocket of the eyelid.
7. Let go of the eyelid and blink (or tell the patient to blink) to spread the medication.

Activity: No restrictions are required unless you require eye surgery; then you will be given specific instructions about the amount of activity allowed.

Diet: No restrictions.

Medications:

You Have Been Prescribed: _________________________________________________________________________________

You Need to Use the Medicine: _______________________________________________________________________________

You Need to Notify the Office If:

1. You are unable to put in the medication yourself or get help from others.
2. You are not better 24 to 48 hours after starting the medication.
3. Your vision is worse after using the medication.
4. You have an allergic reaction to the medicine.
5. Other: _________________________________________________________________________________________________

Phone: ______________________________________________________