The nature of children means that they are forever
susceptible to afflictions and illnesses. The willingness to come into contact
with one another and anything means that they are likely to pig up diseases and
bugs. This is especially true when it comes to afflictions of the eye. Viral
conjunctivitis is a common affliction amongst children as a side-product of a
viral infection. This may require the administering of Eye Drops. This can be
difficult due to the evasiveness of children and their unwillingness to
cooperate. Here are a few tips to safely and easily administer Eye Drops to a
child.
Firstly, it is important to make sure that your hands and
fingers are free of dirt and completely clean. Wipe any dirt from the face of
the child with a clean cloth. Shake the Eye Drops bottle, remove the lid and
throw away the plastic seal.
Choose the position that they are most comfortable and
cooperative in. Either:
- Tilt the child’s head back in the standing or sitting position
- Lay the child flat on their back
- Keep your child held in a safe position by somebody that they trust
If you are administering the Eye Drops to a baby or a small
child, wrap them in a blanket to keep their legs and arms still.
Gently pull down the lower eyelid of the child and without
touching the bottle against the child squeeze in one drop. Aim for the inside
of the lower eye lid and allow the child to blink a few times. This allows the
Eye Drop to spread around the full extent of the eye.
Wipe away any excess Eye Drop residue with a clean cloth. If
you are administering a second, different Eye Drop to the child, wait for a few
minutes for the initial Eye Drop to sink in. If you are administering the Eye
Drop to counter dry eyes then use Dry Eye Drops. Similarly, use Contact Lens
Eye Drops when administering to a child wearing contact lenses.
