Disclaimer [ENGLISH]
Disclaimer: This material is for educational purposes only. You, the reader, assume full responsibility for how you choose to use it. It is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment, nor does it replace the advice or counsel of a doctor or health care professional. Reference to a specific commercial product or service does not imply endorsement or recommendation of that product or service by CPCMG.
Give your child eye drops and eye ointment with these step-by-step instructions:
- Wash your hands.
2. Clean your child’s eyes.
- Use a different washcloth area for each eye and gently wipe the eye. Start near the nose and move outward.
- If the eye has hard crusted material around it, wet a washcloth with warm water and place it over the eye to make it softer and easier to remove.
- Wait about 1 minute, and then use the washcloth to gently wipe the eye starting near the nose.
- Repeat these steps as many times as needed to remove all of the drainage.
- Clean the cloths before using them again.
- Wash your hands again when you are finished.
3. Lay your child on their back on a flat surface.
- If they will not stay still, place them on their back with their head between your legs, and arms under your legs.
- Text BoxIf needed, gently cross your lower legs over your child’s legs to keep them from moving.
- Place a pillow under your child’s shoulders or a rolled-up towel under their neck to tilt the head backwards.
4. Apply eye ointment or eye drops.
- If the medication has been stored in the refrigerator, bring it to room temperature by rubbing or rolling the medicine bottle or tube between the palms of your hands.
- Shake the bottle if the label instructs you to.
- Place the wrist of the hand you will be using for the medication on your child’s forehead.
Eye Drops
- Tell your child to look up and to the other side – you can use a toy to make a young child look where you want. The eye drops should flow away from your child’s nose.
- Bring the dropper about 1inch away from the eye.
- Squeeze the bottle, so the drop of medication lands in the lower eyelid, away from the tear ducts.
- Rinse the dropper with water and put the cap back on right away.
Eye Ointment
- Tell your child look up and to the other side – you can use a toy to make a young child look where you want. The eye ointment should flow away from the child’s nose.
- Pull down slightly and gently on the skin below the eye, just above the cheekbone.
- Bring the tube about 1 inch away from the eye.
- Apply a thin line of ointment along the lower eyelid.
- Rotate the tube when you reach the edge of the outer eye. This will help detach the ointment from the tube.
- Wipe the tip of the ointment tube with a clean tissue and put the cap back on right away.
- Ask your child to close or blink their eyes for a minute to allow the eye drops or ointment to spread throughout the eye.
- Wipe away any excess medication or tearing with a clean tissue.
- Wash your hands.
This publication was adapted from information from American Academy of Pediatrics patient education handouts and the Curriculum for Medication Administration in Early Education and Child Care Settings
Reviewed by: AR D.O., TT D.O. | 01/2024