Burning, itchiness or redness of the eye can develop due to dry ambient air or working for a long time in front of a monitor. Alongside eye drops, eye ointments are used for superficial inflammation. Ointments are often recommended as a supplement to eye drops and have a characteristic viscous consistency. These are best applied before going to bed in order to make use of the positive effect of a longer dwell time.

Application: tips for administering eye ointment

Eye ointments are administered to the eye to treat different diseases. Alongside bacterial infections, they are also used for injuries, allergic reactions as well as symptoms of dry eyes. Because of their viscous consistency, ointments stay in the eye for longer and therefore are more recommended for use before going to bed. Possible symptoms in the morning when opening the eyes, such as crusty eyes, can, for example, be relieved with a dose of VitA POS^® the evening before.

In order to use the eye ointment correctly, please follow the instructions on the patient information leaflet. If you should have problems in administering, ask another person or your doctor for help. A parent or a doctor should always apply ointments to children. If you are applying the ointment without medical help, please make note of the following tips:

• Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water before applying the eye ointment.
• If ointment residue or surplus remains stuck on the eye, please remove this beforehand with lukewarm water. Incrustations on the eyelashes can be softened before removal.
• You can try to apply the ointment yourself in front of a mirror. Alternatively, you can also sit or lie down, but in this case you should let someone else apply the ointment.
• To apply the ointment, pull the lower lid down with a finger or a compress.
• The eye ointment should be placed in the conjunctival sac. This is located between the inside of the lower eyelid and the eyeball.
• Now squeeze the prescribed amount of ointment into the conjunctival sac. Usually this is a line of ointment about 0.5 cm in length which you should apply starting from the corner of the eye next to the nose outwards.
• After application, close your eye. You can remove the excess ointment which leaks out with a cloth or compress.
   

Some eye ointments such as PARIN POS^® or VitA POS^® are suitable for external use, for example when skin rashes appear near to the eye. The ointment is then applied to the eyelid or the skin on the face near to the eye and gently spread.

General tips on use

If you are having treatment with eye ointment, you should make sure that the tube or the bottle does not come into contact with either the eyelashes or the conjunctiva. This way, you can avoid damaging the eyeball as well as avoiding contaminations and infections.

If you are using eye drops at the same time, use them first. You should leave a gap which can vary between 15 and 60 minutes between applications. Regarding this, follow the instructions in the patient information leaflet or from your doctor.

The high viscosity of eye ointment can lead to diminished vision. This impairment of vision means that your fitness to drive is no longer assured. You are also advised not to operate heavy machinery. Because of the film of ointment and the associated blurry vision, it is recommended to use it primarily before going to sleep.