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Tuesday, February 06, 2007

Delaying Tactic Boosts Eyedrop Power
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A recent visitor to our WebMD Eye Disorders Message Board asked about tasting her daily eyedrops. YECCHH!

Many of you experience the same situation. Now, think about this. If you can taste the medicine then those eyedrops drops must be in your mouth and no longer on the surface of your eye, right? It just takes three blinks for all of the medicine to be washed away... wasted!

Attention prospective pharmacologists. Eyedrops in the mouth have no beneficial effect on the eye. They are gone and unavailable to do the job for which they were prescribed: kill bacteria, lower intraocular pressure, quiet inflammation, etc.

Some eyedrops are prescribed for once-a-day use. That means 24 hours of effective drug activity hinge on that one eyedrop. If you can taste it then the eye has not absorbed it!

Here's how to maximize the effect of your eyedrops. As soon as the eyedrop is instilled (dropped!) close the eye and gently press the tip of your index finger against the inner corner of the eye. This will block normal tear drainage and keep the medicine available longer. Try to do this for two full minutes. Even if you taste the drug afterwards you will know that you gave the eye sufficient time to absorb an adequate dose of medication.

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Posted by: Dr. Lloyd at 9:14 AM

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