How to instill eye drops and avoid contamination Correct procedure is critical for your patients’ best care By Karen Bachman, COE, COMT, CCRC Patient drop instillation We now know how to handle instillation of eye drops in our offices, but what about the patient? Provide written detailed instructions with simplified language to patients. Give an in-office drop instillation demo, then ask the patient to give it a try and offer feedback. If a family member accompanied the patient to the visit, suggest the family member try instilling the drops. An actual demonstration to instruct the patient on drop usage is especially critical if there is a language barrier between technician and patient. One report shows that over 30 percent of patients miss the mark by placing drops on their eyelids or cheeks, over 70 percent touch the tip of the bottle to eyelashes, and only 25 percent comply with closing their eyes for a few moments after instillation. In addition, many patients squeeze out up to eight drops instead of one with each instillation.1 Be cognizant of any physical impairments that could impact patient compliance such as tremors or arthritis. Related: 4 steps to care for ophthalmic instruments Contamination and hygiene Drops contain preservatives to prevent bacterial growth during use. But preservatives cover only certain microorganisms. Good hygiene is required to prevent contaminated drops. One study showed contamination in 44 percent of residues of eyedrops.2 Single-use containers have the advantage of continuous sterility, but they cost more than stocking larger sizes. If contamination is suspected, err on the side of caution and discard the bottle. Don’t forget to routinely check all drops for expiration date. Follow the expiration date on the label if the bottle is unopened. Manufacturers usually advise discarding open bottles 30 days after opening. Train your team to write on the bottle label the date it was opened. Poor hygiene practices can lead to contaminated medication in the office as well as many illness, such as such as Salmonella, Campylobacter, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), flu, diarrhea, common cold, and impetigo. Hand hygiene is a generic term that applies to handwashing, antiseptic hand wash, alcohol-based hand rub or surgical hand hygiene. Specific indications for hand hygiene are simple: Follow hygiene recommendations before and after patient contact to protect the patient and yourself. Plain soap is good at reducing bacterial counts, but antimicrobial soap is better, and alcohol-based hand rubs are the best.3 Alcohol-based hand rubs may be a better option than handwashing with soap—less time because rubs act faster, less hand irritation, and less flow time. You don’t need to walk to a sink before taking care of the next patient. The time required can end up being a deterrent to frequent or proper handwashing. The best hand rub technique is to apply the rub to the palm of one hand, and rub hands together covering all surface until dry. Make sure you allow the rub to dry. Think about all you touch every day: doorknobs, toilet seats, animals, other people’s hands via handshake, and more. Germs live on almost everything. Handwashing is the most important act to help stop the spread of disease. Evaluate your clinic to improve hygiene best practices by placing hand rubs at entrance to patient lanes and in clinic hallways for easy access. Provide staff with individual pocket sized containers as well.

Happy Womens Day !! #rubeenajadwatoptometrist #eyegotyoucovered

“I was declared blind by doctors just minutes after I was born. The medical facilities for the blind are not that great in UP so I was sent to Bombay when I was 16 for better treatment but my first surgery failed. I accepted my destiny and completed my schooling from the Victoria Memorial School for the blind. I loved my school life — I made great friends and learnt to be independent from them. We didn’t have a lot of money, but I was desperate to study further, so I would make and sell agarbattis after college and then study until late at night to keep up. I also performed in an orchestra from time to time and saved every penny for my post graduation and finally got a job with the State Bank of India! I love my job — my colleagues are amazing. They taught me how to take the train independently and even how to cook my rice and pulses. When I reached a point where I was making enough money, I married the love of my life. I’ve never seen her, but I know she has a beautiful heart, because there hasn’t been a day when she’s made me feel like I lack something — we’ve lived a beautiful life together with our daughter.” “What advice would you give people?” “After 55 years of having no sight, the only thing I can say is that life is beautiful, if you want it to be. The second you love and accept the way you are, the world becomes a wonderful place to live. Often people ask me what my struggles are because I’m blind, but I have no struggles; no problems. The only reason for that, is that I have love in my heart and I feel it all around me from my wife at home to my colleagues at work. When I hear stories of people suffering from depression or young children committing suicide — I feel like there’s where the problem is. The lack of love is the real handicap anyone can have and these are the people who need to be loved even harder.”

Just an explanation as to why you should avoid screen time (TV, I Pads and cell phones) before going to sleep. The retina in the eye picks up blue light during the day. It sends a message to the brain to suppress MELATONIN secretion from the brain. Melatonin is necessary for sleep. So this keeps you alert during the day. That's why you go into a dark room in the day if you want a nap, to stimulate Melatonin release. This happens naturally at night, but then we pick up the artificial light sources from the screens, reducing Melatonin release, and then have difficulty sleeping. And the screens have a HIGHER source of blue light than daylight. Hope this is helpful. #rubeenajadwatoptometrist #eyegotyoucovered #eyefacts

Train your lazyyy eye.. #eyefacts #rubeenajadwatoptometrist #eyegotyoucovered

August Specials.. #rubeenajadwatoptometrist #eyegotyoucovered

Try staring at its yellow stripes or 10-20 seconds, then move your eyes to the fish bowl. Can you do it? Comment below👇🏼

What number do you see? #eyetests #rubeenajadwatoptometrist #eyegotyoucovered

For one day only!!! #rubeenajadwatoptometrist #eyegotyoucovered #charity #mandeladay