Any Ideas: How To Apply One Handed?

[westsnoop]

Last night I slipped on ice. The resulting fall caused what is probably a rotator cuff tear, and I can't lift my left arm high enough to assist holding the eye open. Most of the restasis seems to end up on my eyelids do the application one handed. The doctors office really has no idea how to handle this. Any ideas?

[Guest]

I can't lift my left arm high enough to assist holding the eye open. Most of the restasis seems to end up on my eyelids do the application one handed.

I've always put in my eye drops one-handed (other than using the 2nd hand to actually open and re-close the vial)... so maybe what I do will work for you too... (and if you master this, you, too, will be able to hold onto a child or dog AND put in eyedrops simultaneously!... c'mon... I know you've always wanted to...)

I close the eye that I'm not putting the drop into. For the eye that I do want the drop to go into, I just hold the vial tip above my open eye until it's lined up such that I can stare straight up the inside of the dropper opening - hold steady, purposely stare and don't blink, and squeeze a drop out - bingo - lands dead on every time. Whatever you do, don't hold the vial so close that you actually poke yourself in the eye!!! My dropper tip is usually a few inches above my eye when I release the drop... eventually you get a feel for how much your arm has to be bent to get it not too close, and not too far.

[Rebecca Petris]

You might try one of those deelybobs they sell in drugstores that help you target eyedrops really carefully (it fits on a bottle).

I have a slightly different method than SAAG but I won't describe my most common multi-tasking scenario lest I incriminate myself

I'm holding the bottle at a very steep angle aimed downwards at roughly the lower outer corner of my eye. With the knuckle of my index finger i'm lightly tugging at my eyelid to hold it up. Squeeze out one drop. - This kind of thing is of course a lot more risky for someone pointing it at the naked eye... i've got my rock hard lens in between that dropper and my cornea.

Funny, I just tested something else and it worked: I held the bottle between my index and middle fingers and used my thumb to pull down my lower lid. Squeeze bottle between two fingers. Drop lands in sac.

Good luck.

[Guest]

...but I won't describe my most common multi-tasking scenario lest I incriminate myself

Oh c'mon... don't be shy!!! lol

[jenny2008]

i always use one hand..its just been a habit..never thought of it before..anyway,, i just tilt my head back and place the eye drop vial very close to my eye without touching and squeeze the drop into the eye.... and when driving i have even had to open the vial with my teeth (i know some will say gross-but too bad!) i bet others have done it and then i reclose it the same way with the cap still in mouth... i guess u can tell ive had dry eye a long time!!! good luck..it will be ok!!!

[farmgirl]

Great description Saag. Really I didn't know it took two hands. I can whip those puppies in with one eye on the road, one hand on the wheel, (of course when there are no other cars around me), and like Jenny teeth to open the vial. For those instances I use Rebecca's method, other wise I use Saag's, except that I guess I have done it so much for so long I just get it somewhere above my eye and drop it. I hit it bang on 99.2% of the time, only miss if I am distracted. I've been thinking we should make it a paralympic sport except I think Saag might beat me be because I bet she can do it while downhill skiing....F/G

[Guest]

I've been thinking we should make it a paralympic sport except I think Saag might beat me be because I bet she can do it while downhill skiing....F/G

lololol! Don't cut yourself short F/G... I've never taken the cap off with my teeth...

But Jenny, you also get it back ON with your teeth? THAT is impressive! I'm thinking the high degree of skill exhibited by that feat just might be enough for you to take the gold medal and beat all of us!

[jenny2008]

Thanks SAAG!!! Now even when i am having a bad bad eye day i will think of what you said and it will make me smile.. thanks!! ))))

[jax8it]

You guys are pros. I suck major at applying drops. I think i hit every area around my eye at least five times before getting any drops in my eye. Another reason I don't wear makeup anymore.

I have watched you SAAG apply drops and you are Olympic worthy lol.

[Guest]

Thanks SAAG!!! Now even when i am having a bad bad eye day i will think of what you said and it will make me smile.. thanks!! ))))

Awesome! We can either cry about our ridiculous situation, or laugh at it... might as well laugh, right?

[Guest]

You guys are pros. I suck major at applying drops. I think i hit every area around my eye at least five times before getting any drops in my eye. Another reason I don't wear makeup anymore.

As much as I mourn the loss of my make-up wearing days (god, did I ever love wearing makeup...), on the bright side, NOT wearing make-up is a major time saver. Also, I no longer worry about swimming causing my makeup to wear off and making me look bad since, um, I never have makeup on anymore anyways (the self-consciousness I used to have about being seen without makeup has left me... THAT is priceless I must admit... nice not to have that worry anymore, stupid as it must sound)

[gz9gjg]

How to make sure your drops get into your eye:

Use clean fingers to gently pull downward on the skin below your eye, so that the lower eyelid pulls away from the eye, forming a small pouch.
Aim eye drops into the pouch.

Good luck . . .

[indrep]

Technical answer

Hold vial between thumb and index finger with opening pointing down toward pinky.
Shake vial down so that drop is ready to be "dropped".
Hold head back (preferably at 90 degree angle to back).
Use pinky finger to pull lower lid back and down creating a space between the globe and lid.
Line up vial so that it is just below the center of eye, this keeps the blink reflex at bay as drop is not coming at eye.
Squeeze index finger and thumb together so that drop lands in the pocket created with pinky.

Contraindication: Do not attempt this while operating heavy machinery, automobiles, children or other devices that require constant attention.

[patientpatrick]

I'll admit i've twisted the tips off applicators with my teeth, then using my middle finger to pull the eyelid down and place a drop. It's not the most graceful of ways, but it gets the job done.

[farmgirl]

Seriously westsnoop, I know we are a bit goofy but now and again it just helps to laugh at ourselves. I hope there have been enough actually helpful people respond that you have it down pat by now...cheers...F/G