Sterile q-tips?

[odydnas]

In Dr. Latkany's book, he suggests using sterile q-tips for lid therapy. Does anyone actually use sterile q-tips? Would I get an eye infection if I just used regular Walgreens q-tips?

thanks!

[NYer]

I just use regular Q-Tips. He didn't say anything about sterilizing them when I was in his office.

[Judy]

I use CVS, Walgreens, Johnsons, whatever is on hand (none are sterile). My guess is you could buy sterile q-tips somewhere versus trying to sterilize them yourself... Hmmmm. Probably would be much better to do... Does anyone know where to buy sterile q-tips?

[stella]

Surely it is not neccesary to have sterilized q tips - After all they are used on your lids /margins not in your eyes ,and what about all the mascaras and lid liners everyone uses ? They are not sterile - I would go for "surgically clean " ie not leaving them lying on work sufaces - using them straight out of the box and not allowing your toddler to play with them, throw away if they drop on the floor and wash your hands before using them etc Sterile in my opinion is OTT

[Stanza]

in the UK they usually say that on the box, because they are sealed up and good to go....I think the idea is to keep them in their box and keep the box covered and clean so you don't get debris on them...that's my take on it.

edited: sorry realize stella said that. sorry

[odydnas]

Thanks everyone for the replies!

[Abqfriend]

Sterile Cotton Tip Applicators

Sterile Cotton Tip Applicators can be purchased at most larger medical supply stores. As they are sterile, they cost much more than a box of Q-Tips or similar. I read the same book. The ideal would be to use sterile tipped applicators-but we are in a real world.
If not sterile, use applicators as clean or close to sterile as possible. Sterile is the ideal.