Question for the "Frequent Droppers"

[shoebox]

Hi everyone,
I cannot put drops in without a mirror. For years I was unable to even put drops in myself, as a kid my mom always had to do it with my eyes closed (drop in the inside corner and let the drops seep along...). After getting contacts, I learned to pull my lower eyelid down slightly and place the drops in the "pocket" created. I need a mirror for that! As a result, I know I haven't used drops as frequently as I wanted to because I'd always have to run off to a restroom or carry a mirror around with me and try to hold it, hold my eye, and drop the drops.
So for everyone here that drops frequently, HOW? How do you guys do it anywhere, anytime? The middle of the night? Trying without a mirror means I get my face very wet and *might* actually get a drop or two in my eyes.
Any advice?

[stephgurl1986]

I never had a problem with that. I look up and keep my eyes open, I don't do anything with my finger and the eyelid, I just look up and use the drop, nothing runs out of my eye so it's a perfect method! :-)

[Rebecca Petris]

It's a good question. Accuracy is a problem for a LOT of people on drops and can be a serious problem for people on things like glaucoma medications where they have to make sure they're getting a therapeutic dosage.

One thing you might want to think about if you want to improve your "aim" is little devices you can get that adhere to a bottle of drops. I can't remember exactly but I think one of them is called EZDrops or something like that - available in drugstores for a coupla bucks. You stick it to the side of the bottle. It gives you a target sort of thing to look at other than the dropper itself. From what I remember of testing it a few years ago it works OK. Worth a try definitely. But then, it would only work with bottled drops probably.

[Rebecca Petris]

Aha, found it. Here's a link.

[NYer]

That's so cool!
And it says, E-Z DROPS is DISPOSABLE. You use a brand new applicator with each new bottle or single dose dropper, so I'm assuming you can use it with the disposable vials.

[shoebox]

Yeah, that is cool, but that would get expensive fast on the single-use vials -- 4 "applicators" for 6 bucks. I think, though, for those times when I really can't get to a mirror, those would be SUPER helpful!!
Thanks, Rebecca!
PS I went looking at WalMart (I never shop there, but it was convenient) and CVS and neither store carried anything like this - thanks for looking and posting that link
If anyone else has other suggestions, please add!

[shoebox]

Found some more

Here are some more "eye drop guides" that are different. I still wish I could learn some trick to avoid buying a guide!

Some of these look friendlier than others.

http://www.goldviolin.com/ProductDet...ductCode=90402
http://www.eyedropguidehelper.com/howto.html
http://www.wdrake.com/walterdrake/Sh...000007&Affid=4

This one is funny to me -- goggles for putting in drops:
http://www.truedrop.com/

I hope it is okay that I posted these links.