Procedure
- Allow the patient to bend their head backwards or ask them to lie down on the examination table.
- Provide a tissue to wipe off the excess fluid.
- Stand behind the patient.
- Open the dropper bottle or minim measure containing anaesthetic.
- Pull down the lower eyelid [Figure 54], exposing the conjunctival pouch (formed by the fold of the tarsal conjunctiva and bulbar conjunctiva).
- Ask the patient to look up. Drop the prescribed number of droplets into the exposed conjunctival pouch.
Figure 54
When not using a minim measure (single use packaging), ensure that the patient’s eyelashes do not touch the dropper. This is essential to avoid contamination of the bottle and the contents. As soon as the droplets have been applied, the patient can hold their head straight again. Wait until the eye is sufficiently numbed before starting with any potential procedures. You can check this by checking if the eye-blink reflex occurs when you softly touch the eye globe from the side, using a point-tip cotton bud.