Pharmacology & Dosage Calculation
A 44 year-old woman presented to the Emergency Department with eye pain and redness.
She was diagnosed with uveitis related to a viral infection. The doctor prescribe dexamethasone eye drops.Where is the correct place to instill eye drops?
Explanation
Core Concept: Proper administration technique for ophthalmic medications.
Clinical Presentation:
- Eye pain, redness, photophobia, and blurred vision.
- Complications include glaucoma, cataracts, and permanent vision loss if untreated.
Diagnosis: Slit-lamp examination by an ophthalmologist is the gold standard for diagnosing uveitis.
Management: Acute management involves topical corticosteroids (like dexamethasone) and cycloplegics. To administer eye drops correctly, the nurse or patient should pull down the lower eyelid to expose the conjunctival sac and instill the drops into this sac. Drops should never be applied directly onto the sensitive cornea to avoid injury and triggering the blink reflex.