Question

A nurse is preparing to administer eye drops to a client following surgery. Which of the following actions should the nurse take when instilling the eye drops?

a) Have the client close their eyes tightly for 5 minutes
b) Instill the drops directly onto the cornea
c) Apply gentle pressure to the inner canthus after instilling the drops
d) Ask the client to blink rapidly to distribute the medication

Answer 1

The correct action when administering eye drops is to apply gentle pressure to the inner canthus after instilling the drops, which helps in the absorption of the medication.

Step-by-step explanation:

When administering eye drops to a client after surgery, the nurse should take specific steps to ensure the medication is applied correctly and safely. One of the key actions the nurse should take is c) Apply gentle pressure to the inner canthus after instilling the drops. This helps to prevent the drainage of the medication through the tear duct, providing more time for the eye drops to be absorbed and take effect. Instilling the drops directly onto the cornea or having the client close their eyes tightly may not be advised as these actions can cause discomfort and may not allow for proper distribution of the medication. Asking the client to blink rapidly is also not recommended as it can cause excess tearing and might lead to the removal of the medication from the eye surface before it has had a chance to be absorbed.