When administering eye drops, where should the drops be placed?

The correct placement for eye drops is into the lower conjunctival sac. This area is specifically designed for the administration of ocular medications because it allows for optimal absorption and minimizes the risk of the medication spilling onto the skin or being washed away.

Placing the drops in the lower conjunctival sac ensures that the medication can spread evenly over the surface of the eye, providing effective treatment. It also prevents reflex tearing that might occur if the drops are placed directly on the eye surface, which would wash away the medication before it can take effect.

While putting drops directly on the eye surface or on the eyelash margin may seem like they could work, they are less effective due to the aforementioned reasons, such as high loss of the medication. The upper conjunctival sac is also not an ideal site for drop administration because it is less accessible and does not facilitate the same effective coating of the cornea and conjunctiva as the lower sac does. Thus, utilizing the lower conjunctival sac is the preferred method for applying eye drops safely and effectively.