Instilling eye drops and ointment in a baby or young child

Before performing this procedure • Wash your hands (and afterwards too). • Ask the parent and any other helper to wash their hands. • Minimise distractions. • Ensure good lighting. • Explain to the parent (and child, if old enough to understand) that the medicine needs to be put into the eye and that it will make the eye better. • Explain that, once the medication has been put in, the vision may be blurred for some time. • Some eye drops cause a stinging sensation – tell the parent and the child so they can expect it: doing so is important as it builds trust.