Ophthalmologists prescribe eye drops to treat conditions like dry eye or infections. Eyedropper bottles often look like other bottled medications or substances, such as super glue, that you shouldn’t put in your eyes. Here are a few tips to prevent detrimental mix-ups.

How Can I Prevent Issues When Taking Eye Drops?

1. Color Code Bottles

When you’re in a rush, it’s easy to confuse similar looking bottles. Color-coding can help you quickly identify which bottle is which. Apply different colors of tape to different bottles and their respective boxes, such as red tape for the eye drops and blue for the ear drops.

2. Keep a Note Near Your Medications

Ask your ophthalmologist for the box that the drops came in, and keep them in it. Boxes have larger fonts than bottles, making it easier to read the label and name of the medicine. Next, write a sticky note with the name of each medication and its purpose, and place it next to the bottles. If you get confused, reference the note.

3. Schedule the Medication

Creating a schedule for your different drops will prevent bottle mix up because you’ll be handling only one at a time. For example, you can take your eye drops in the morning, and ear drops at night. Associating a medication with a specific time of day will make the process less confusing and reduce the chances of an accident.

4. Keep Bottles Separated

Place bottled non-medications, like super glue, far from similarly shaped medicines. Always place eye drops in the medicine cabinet or on the vanity, and put other items in utility drawers or storage cabinets.

For more tips on how to prevent a mix up with your prescription eye drops, contact the team at Hawaii Vision Clinic in Aiea. These professionals are led by ophthalmologist Dr. William K. Wong, Jr., and are committed to helping patients of all ages care for their eyesight. They offer treatments or drop medications for dry eye, glaucoma, cataracts, and diabetic eye disease. View their full list of services online, or call (808) 487-7938 to schedule an appointment with this skilled ophthalmologist.