How to Put In Eye Drops Correctly: A Step-by-Step Guide

To put in eye drops, wash your hands, tilt your head back, and gently pull down your lower eyelid to make a small pocket. Squeeze one drop into that pocket without letting the tip touch your eye, then close your eye for 2 to 3 minutes and press lightly on the inner corner near your nose. If you use more than one kind of drop, wait at least 5 minutes between them.

These small steps matter. A drop that lands on your cheek, or gets washed out by the next one, is wasted medicine, and with glaucoma, every dose helps protect your sight.

What should you do before putting in eye drops?

Wash your hands with soap and water, then dry them.
Check the label. Make sure it is the right medicine for the right eye and that it has not expired. Shake the bottle only if the label says to.
Look at the tip. MedlinePlus advises checking that the dropper tip is not chipped or cracked.
Take out contact lenses unless the drops are made for use with lenses.
Pick a steady position. Sitting with your head tipped back, standing at a mirror, or lying flat on a bed all work.

How do you put in eye drops, step by step?

The method is the same for lubricating drops, antibiotic drops such as ciprofloxacin (for example Ciplox Eye Drops) prescribed for a bacterial infection, and glaucoma drops.

Tilt your head back, or lie down, and look up toward the ceiling.
With your index finger, gently pull your lower eyelid down to make a small pocket.
Hold the bottle upside down in your other hand, close to the eye but not touching it. Resting your other fingers on your cheek or forehead keeps your hand steady.
Look up and gently squeeze so that one drop falls into the pocket.
Let go of the eyelid and close your eye gently. Do not squeeze it shut or blink hard.
Tip your head down, as if looking at the floor, and press lightly on the inner corner of your eye for 2 to 3 minutes.
Blot any liquid on your eyelid or cheek with a clean tissue.
Recap the bottle tightly without wiping or rinsing the tip, then wash your hands again.

Why is one drop enough?

A typical drop from a bottle is about 25 to 50 microliters, while the surface of the eye holds only about 10 microliters, according to a review of how eye drops are absorbed. Your eye cannot even hold one full drop, so an extra drop just spills out. Use one drop unless your doctor tells you otherwise.

Why close your eye and press the inner corner?

Each eyelid has a tiny drainage opening near the inner corner. Tears and eye drops flow through it into a duct that empties into the nose and throat, which is why some people taste their drops.

Closing your eye and pressing gently on that corner slows this drainage. The medicine stays on the eye longer, and less of it reaches the bloodstream through the lining of the nose. The same review notes that pressing the corner for 3 minutes, or keeping the eyelids closed for 2 minutes, significantly lowered blood levels of eye drop medicine. This matters most for drops that can affect the rest of the body, such as the glaucoma medicine timolol.

How long should you wait between eye drops?

Wait at least 5 minutes before putting a different drop in the same eye. MedlinePlus gives this advice, and so does the US prescribing information for Lumigan (bimatoprost), a glaucoma drop. A second drop put in too soon can wash out the first before it is absorbed.

Ask your doctor or pharmacist which drop to use first if you are not sure.
Eye ointments and gels usually go in last, after your drops.

Can you put in eye drops with contact lenses?

Usually not. Take soft lenses out before using medicated eye drops unless the product says it is made for use with lenses. Many prescription drops contain a preservative called benzalkonium chloride, which soft lenses can absorb. The Lumigan label, for example, warns it may discolor soft lenses and says to remove lenses before each dose and wait 15 minutes before putting them back in.

Follow the leaflet for your own drops, since advice varies. If you are being treated for an eye infection, leave your lenses out until your eye doctor says it is safe to wear them again.

How do you keep the dropper tip clean?

The tip should never touch your eye, eyelashes, fingers, or any other surface. The Lumigan prescribing information mentions reports of bacterial keratitis, a serious infection of the front of the eye, linked to multi-dose bottles that patients had accidentally contaminated.

Do not wipe or rinse the tip. Tap water and tissues are not sterile.
Never share eye drops, even with family members.
Write the opening date on the bottle. Many drops must be thrown away a set time after opening; your leaflet will say how long.
Store drops as the label directs, out of reach of children.

What should you know about using glaucoma eye drops?

Glaucoma drops lower the pressure inside the eye by reducing fluid or helping it drain. According to the NHS, glaucoma usually causes no symptoms at first and is often found during a routine eye exam. There is no cure, but treatment such as daily eye drops can slow the damage, and regular checkups matter. Because you may feel fine, it is easy to skip doses. These habits help:

Use them at the same time every day, linked to a routine like brushing your teeth. Bimatoprost, for example, is used once a day in the evening, and its US label says not to use it more than once daily.
Know which type you use. Common options include prostaglandin analogs such as bimatoprost and latanoprost, beta blockers such as timolol, and alpha agonists such as brimonidine. Some products combine two medicines, such as Careprost Plus (bimatoprost with timolol). You can compare options, including Alphagan Eye Drop (brimonidine), on our glaucoma eye drops page.
Know the possible changes. The Lumigan label warns that bimatoprost can darken the skin of the eyelids and may slowly turn the iris (the colored part of the eye) browner. The iris change is likely to be permanent. Bimatoprost can also make lashes longer, thicker, and more numerous, as our Careprost vs Latisse guide explains.
Press the inner corner after timolol. Timolol is a beta blocker. The review above explains that beta-blocker eye drops can reach the bloodstream in amounts large enough to slow the heart rate or, in people with asthma, tighten the airways. Tell your doctor if you have asthma, COPD, a slow heartbeat, or another heart problem.
Do not stop on your own. If drops sting or are hard to keep up with, ask your eye doctor about other options.

You can find more options in our eye drops and eye care range. Prescription drops should always be used as your doctor directs.

Featured in this article

Careprost Plus

(1)

Starting at just $25.00

When to see a doctor

Call your eye doctor or get urgent care if you notice:

Sudden, intense eye pain with a red eye and blurred vision, which can mean a sudden rise in eye pressure.
Sudden vision loss, a shadow over part of your vision, or a burst of new floaters or flashes.
A painful red eye, light sensitivity, or blurry vision while you wear contact lenses.
Swelling, itching, or redness that gets worse after starting a new drop. Get emergency help for swelling of the face or throat or trouble breathing.
An eye infection that is not improving after a few days of treatment.
Wheezing, dizziness, or a very slow pulse while using timolol or another beta-blocker drop.

Frequently asked questions

How many drops should I put in my eye?

One drop, unless your doctor tells you differently. Your eye cannot hold even one full drop, so a second drop mostly runs out.

What if I am not sure the drop went in?

If you felt it land on your eye, assume it went in. If you are sure it landed on your eyelid or cheek, try once more. Lying down or using a mirror can make it easier to aim.

Should I blink after putting in eye drops?

No. Close your eye gently for 2 to 3 minutes instead. Blinking hard or squeezing your eyelids can push the medicine out.

Why can I taste my eye drops?

Drops drain through a small duct at the inner corner of the eye into the nose and throat. Pressing gently on that corner after each drop cuts down the taste and how much medicine reaches the rest of your body.

This article gives general information and does not replace advice from your doctor or pharmacist. Prescription eye drops, including glaucoma and antibiotic drops, should be used under a doctor’s care and exactly as prescribed.