What is the shelf life of eye drops

More and more young people and children are having serious eye problems. Some just have a little blurred vision, but after a long time, it will be accompanied by eye soreness, visual fatigue, and even a feeling of eye swelling and pain. Some people choose to use eye drops to maintain their eyes. However, eye drops cannot be used after the expiration date.

How to store eye drops

1. Eye drops should be placed in a cool, dry and ventilated place. If conditions permit, they can be placed in the refrigerator (4°C is sufficient). If the temperature is too high, it will easily deteriorate.

2. Before use, check whether the eye drops are clear and transparent, and whether there is any discoloration or mold clumps. Please make sure to use it up within the specified time.

3. Tighten the lid after each use to reduce the chance of contamination and leakage of medicine.

4. Eye drops must be stored separately from other types of aqueous medicines. The author has encountered two patients who mistakenly put athlete's foot water and small bottles of iodine tincture (iodine wine) into their eyes as eye drops, causing eye burns.

5. Write your name on the eye drops bottle to avoid making the wrong choice. For example, atropine-type drugs are mydriatic drugs. If used by the elderly, they may induce glaucoma. In severe cases, vision loss or even blindness may occur. Timothy eye drops are used to treat glaucoma. This drug has a certain impact on the heart. If used too much, heart disease may occur, and the condition of those who already have heart disease will be aggravated.

How to use eye drops

1. Don't forget to wash your hands before applying eye drops to avoid infection through hand contact; after applying eye drops (ointments), your fingers may get drops or tears on them, so it is best to wash your hands again.

2. When applying eye drops, tilt your head back as much as possible or lie down flat. Use your index finger to pull the lower eyelid down and away from the eyeball.

3. Point the mouth of the eye drop bottle toward the eye and apply the drops inside the conjunctival fornix. One to two drops of eye drops are enough, and eye ointment should be squeezed out to about one centimeter long. Because the volume of the eyeball surface is very limited, and the tears are drained from the nasolacrimal duct very quickly, the contact time between the eye drops and the eyeball surface is increased within this limited volume and time. Note that the mouth of the eye drop bottle must not touch the eyes or eyelashes to prevent the bottle from being contaminated, and cover the bottle cap immediately after applying the eye drops.

4. Close your eyes for at least five minutes without blinking, and gently press the nasolacrimal duct at the inner corner of the eye with your fingers for at least two minutes to slow down the drainage of the medicine.

5. Before opening your eyes, use a tissue or handkerchief to wipe away any unabsorbed eye drops or tears that have flowed around your eyes.

6. If you need to use two or three kinds of eye drops, wait five to ten minutes before using the second eye drop. If you need to use eye drops and eye ointment at the same time, you should use the eye drops first and then apply the eye ointment after five minutes.

7. If there are family members and colleagues around you, try to complete the "work" of applying eye drops by yourself to prevent bacteria on other people's hands. Of course, if both parties wash their hands and maintain good hygiene, it will be better for others to help you to prevent some minor situations such as applying eye drops incorrectly.