Eye drops are used by people with a range of disabilities for simple conditions such as conjunctivitis, through to long term eye conditions requiring regular medicating throughout the day.
Administering eye drops independently can be a challenge especially for people with:
- general unsteadiness in the hands which makes it difficult to aim accurately
- restricted hand mobility, dexterity, coordination or strength
- use of only one hand
- visual impairments that may impair capacity to aim accurately.
Eye medication administering equipment assists people who are having difficulty independently administering eye drops.
Workplace solutions and adjustments
For people with restricted hand mobility or strength, unsteadiness in the hands or visual impairment, the process of administering eye drops can be difficult to undertake independently at work and therefore eye drop administering guides can be used to assist.
The following aids are available:
- aids to assist with squeezing of the eye drop bottle to assist in dispensing drops for those with reduced grip strength and finger dexterity
- eye drop guides which clip onto the eye drop bottle and can be positioned over the eye to hold the eye lids open—this improves aim and allows the eye drops to be administered with one hand or with reduced finger dexterity or strength
- eye drop guides in the form of glasses in which the eye drop bottle screws onto and therefore requires only squeezing of the bottle to administer.
Other equipment that may be useful when requiring assistance to independently administer medications or other self care tasks can be found at the following links:
References
Safe Medication 2008, How to use Eyedrops, American Society of Health System Pharmacists Inc., Bethesda, viewed 7 February 2011, http://www.safemedication.com/searchresults/DisplayDrug.aspx?id=a601171.
Glaucoma Support Group 2006, How to administer eye drops, Glaucoma Support Group, Melbourne, viewed 7 February 2011, http://home.vicnet.net.au/~glaucoma/drops.htm.
Independent Living Centres Australia Inc. 2007, Medication Managemet, Independent Living Centres Australia Inc., Sydney, viewed 7 February 2011, http://www.ilcaustralia.org/search3.asp?State=WA&MC=11&MinC=77.