How should eye drops be placed into the eye?

Placing eye drops in the conjunctival sac is essential for effective medication delivery. This technique ensures that the drops are deposited where they can be absorbed by the eye tissues, minimizing waste and optimizing the therapeutic effect of the medication. Holding the dropper about 1/2 inch above the conjunctival sac allows for a fine control that helps direct the drops accurately into the eye without causing irritation or injury.

Placing the drops 1 inch above the cornea may increase the risk of the drops missing the eye entirely or falling onto areas of the face instead. Directly touching the eye with the dropper increases the risk of contaminating the medication, potentially leading to infections. Administering the drops onto the lower eyelid can lead to the medication being inadvertently blinked away or falling out, reducing the dosage administered to the eye. Therefore, the correct method is to place the drops into the conjunctival sac to ensure proper medication delivery.