Eye drop aid: how does it work and when is it useful?

What is an eye drop aid?

An eye drop aid, also called eye drop glasses, is a device for people who have trouble applying eye drops.

The glasses help position an eye drop bottle above your eye. That way you have to aim less yourself and you can focus better on calmly applying the drop.

That can be handy when you:

• have trouble aiming an eye drop bottle;
• can’t see clearly where the bottle is;
• have trembling hands;
• have less strength in your hands or fingers;
• use eye drops long term;
• have to use drops after an eye treatment or eye surgery.

Apotheek.nl also states that people who have trouble getting a drop into the eye properly can ask their pharmacy about an eye drop aid.

How do you use an eye drop aid?

How you use an eye drop aid depends on the type of aid and the type of eye drop bottle.

With the Oculoo eye drop aid it works in four simple steps.

1. Insert the eye drop bottle

Remove the cap from the eye drop bottle and place the nozzle of the bottle in the holder of the eye drop aid.

2. Put on the eye drop aid

Put the glasses on like a normal pair of glasses. This positions the bottle above your eye.

Then calmly tilt your head back slightly and look up.

3. Apply the eye drop

Gently pull your lower eyelid down a little. This creates space for the drop to fall into.

Then squeeze the bottle calmly, building up the pressure gradually.

The eye drop aid helps keep the bottle in place while you do this.

4. Clean the eye drop aid

Clean the glasses and holder after use according to the instructions.

Always follow the instructions from your doctor, ophthalmologist, pharmacy and the package leaflet of the eye drops you use.

How do I put drops in my eyes with an eye drop aid?

The main difference between applying eye drops with and without an eye drop aid is the positioning of the bottle.

Without an aid you have to bring the bottle above your eye yourself and hold it still there. With an eye drop aid, the bottle is supported and held in a fixed position above the eye.

That can help especially when aiming while applying eye drops is difficult.

Even with an eye drop aid, it’s important to take your time. Try not to squeeze the bottle several times in quick succession.

Also, don’t touch your eye, eyelids or lashes with the nozzle of the bottle. This can introduce bacteria into the bottle. Apotheek.nl therefore also advises avoiding contact between the bottle and the eye or lashes.

Is an eye drop aid useful?

For people who can apply their eye drops without any trouble, an aid isn’t always necessary.

An eye drop aid is particularly useful when applying drops on your own regularly causes problems.

For example:

• the drop often lands next to your eye;
• you can’t tell exactly where the bottle is above your eye;
• you find it nerve-racking to hold the bottle close to your eye;
• your hands tremble;
• squeezing the bottle takes a lot of strength;
• you have to use drops several times a day;
• someone else currently has to help you with your eye drops.

An eye drop aid doesn’t treat an eye condition. It’s a device for applying eye drops.

Which eye drop aid is suitable also depends on the type of eye drops you use. There are regular eye drop bottles, but also minims and single-use pipettes. These may require different aids.

How often may you use eye drops?

There’s no general answer to the question of how often you may use eye drops.

That depends entirely on the type of eye drop you use.

Some eye drops are used once a day, others two, three or four times a day. Other products are only used temporarily or as needed.

So always check:

• the pharmacy label;
• the package leaflet;
• the prescription from your doctor or ophthalmologist.

Don’t use prescribed eye medication more or less often than agreed without consulting your doctor or pharmacist.

Apotheek.nl also advises following the prescribed dosage. When different types of eye drops are used, the general advice is to wait at least five minutes between them.

How often may you use artificial tears?

Here too, the frequency depends on the product.

Artificial tears, for instance, are used differently from medicinal eye drops for glaucoma, an inflammation or after eye surgery.

Some artificial tears can be used as needed when your eye feels dry or irritated. Other products come with specific instructions.

So with artificial tears too, always check the package leaflet or ask your pharmacy for advice.

Where can you buy an eye drop aid?

An eye drop aid may be available at:

• pharmacies;
• medical device suppliers;
• specialised web shops;
• directly from the manufacturer.

The Oculoo eye drop aid can be ordered directly online and is also available through affiliated pharmacies in the Netherlands.

More than 500 pharmacies are currently affiliated with Oculoo. Ask your own pharmacy about current availability.

Does the pharmacy have an eye drop aid?

That differs per pharmacy.

Not every pharmacy keeps every eye drop aid in stock. A pharmacy can advise you on aids for applying eye drops and in some cases order one for you.

Apotheek.nl also advises people who have trouble applying eye drops to ask their pharmacy about an eye drop aid.

Looking specifically for an Oculoo eye drop aid? Ask your pharmacy about Oculoo or order it directly online.

What does an eye drop aid cost at the pharmacy?

The price of an eye drop aid differs per brand, type and point of sale.

The regular consumer price of the Oculoo eye drop glasses is €21.95 including VAT. Promotions or retail prices at individual points of sale may differ.

When comparing eye drop aids, don’t just look at the price, but also at whether it fits the eye drop bottle you use.

After all, not every aid fits every type of bottle or pipette.

Is an eye drop aid covered by health insurance?

An eye drop aid isn’t automatically covered by basic health insurance.

Reimbursement of medical aids depends on the type of aid, the medical necessity, your insurer and your policy. Zorginstituut Nederland states that health insurers assess per aid whether someone qualifies for reimbursement under medical aids care.

With some insurers, certain aids for self-reliance may be reimbursed under supplementary insurance. Zorg en Zekerheid, for instance, explicitly lists the eye drop aid as an ADL aid: there’s no reimbursement under basic insurance, while depending on your supplementary insurance reimbursement may be possible.

So always check your own policy or contact your health insurer before assuming an eye drop aid is covered.

How long is your vision blurred after drops at the ophthalmologist?

During an examination by the ophthalmologist, eye drops are sometimes used to dilate the pupils.

As a result, your vision may be temporarily blurred afterwards and you may be more sensitive to bright light. According to Thuisarts, these effects can last several hours.

It’s therefore wise not to drive yourself after such an examination as long as your vision is affected. Sunglasses can help if bright light bothers you.

If your vision stays blurred much longer than you were told, suddenly gets clearly worse, or you get severe eye pain, contact a doctor.

Which eye drop aid do I need?

That mainly depends on the packaging of your eye drops.

That’s why Oculoo comes in two versions.

Eye drop aid for eye drop bottles

The regular Oculoo eye drop glasses are intended for suitable eye drop bottles. The nozzle of the bottle is placed in the holder of the glasses.

Eye drop aid for minims

Do you use small single-use pipettes or minims? For those there’s the Oculoo Minim glasses. They’re specifically developed to hold a minim steady above the eye.

Before buying, always check whether your eye drops are suitable for the chosen eye drop aid.

Using an eye drop aid to apply eye drops more independently

Anyone who uses eye drops daily has to repeat the same routine over and over: pick up the bottle, aim, hold still and squeeze at the right moment.

When one of those steps is difficult, an eye drop aid can offer support.

The Oculoo eye drop aid is designed to hold the eye drop bottle steady above your eye, making it easier to apply drops on your own.

Do you use regular eye drop bottles or minims? See which Oculoo suits your eye drops and always check compatibility first.