Use and shelf life
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Use the eye drops for as long as prescribed by the ophthalmologist.
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Eye drops can usually be kept for up to 1 month after opening the packaging.
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Read the patient information leaflet to find out how best to store the eye drops and which side effects may occur.
One drop at a time
- Eye drops work best when you use 1 drop at a time.
- Practise dispensing drops onto a paper tissue. This will help you learn how hard to squeeze the bottle.
Number of times per day
Use the eye drops at the times indicated by the doctor.
- Twice a day: leave 12 hours between the 2 administrations.
- More than twice a day: try to spread the administrations as evenly as possible throughout the day, from when you get up until bedtime.
- Several types: wait at least 5 minutes between the different eye drops.
- Eye drops and eye ointment: use the eye drops first, followed by the eye ointment after 5 minutes.
Eye drop instructions
Administering eye drops to yourself
Follow these 7 steps to put eye drops in your own eye. Always wash your hands with soap first and dry them thoroughly.
Administering eye drops to someone else
When putting eye drops in someone else’s eye, you should generally follow the same 7 steps. The other person can help you to make the process easier.
Always wash your hands with soap beforehand and dry them thoroughly.
Watch the video (in Dutch)
Contact lenses and eye drops
- Use the eye drops in the morning before inserting your contact lenses and/or in the evening after removing them.
- Do you use the eye drops more than twice a day? Remove your contact lenses before using the drops.
Types of contact lenses and eye drops
- You can reinsert hard contact lenses immediately after using the eye drops.
- You may only reinsert soft contact lenses 30 minutes after using the eye drops, as the preservative in the drops may damage soft contact lenses.
Some newer brands of eye drops are suitable for use with contact lenses. Always consult the patient information leaflet.
Need help?
Do you have difficulty putting eye drops in your eye? Ask your pharmacist, home care organisation or ophthalmologist for advice.
They can also provide information about different eye drop techniques and aids. The choice of aid depends on the eye drop bottle you use and any difficulty you experience when using it.