Protocol for bringing your own eye drops

The ‘bring your own eye drops’ protocol is a hygiene procedure used in some eye care practices. It means that, as a patient, you bring your own bottle of eye drops to your appointment, rather than the practice using a shared bottle for multiple patients.

The protocol is designed to reduce the risk of cross-contamination. When a single bottle of eye drops is used for several patients, there is a theoretical risk of contact between the bottle and different eyes or eyelashes. By ensuring that everyone uses their own bottle, each bottle remains personal and is used only for your own eyes.

The protocol is mainly used for diagnostic eye drops, such as pupil-dilating drops or anaesthetic drops required by the eye care professional for an examination. You will be told in advance which type of drops to bring with you, or the practice will give you your own bottle during a previous appointment, which you can keep for future visits.

Not all practices follow this protocol. Many eye care professionals use disposable vials or single-use dropper pipettes, or adhere to strict hygiene guidelines when using multi-dose bottles. The ‘bring your own’ protocol is one of the possible ways to ensure hygiene.

When is the protocol applied?

The protocol for self-administering eye drops is mainly used in situations where diagnostic eye drops are required, such as during a comprehensive eye examination. These include drops that dilate the pupil (mydriasis) or drops that temporarily numb the eye for an eye pressure measurement. You do not use these drops yourself on a daily basis, but only during a consultation.

Some practices will give you your own bottle at your first appointment, instructing you to keep it at home and bring it with you on every subsequent visit. Other practices ask you to purchase a specific type of eye drops yourself and bring them with you.

How do you store your own eye drops?

Store your own bottle of eye drops in accordance with the instructions on the packaging. Most eye drops can be stored at room temperature, in a dry place and out of direct sunlight. Check the use-by date and the shelf life after opening; these are usually stated on the label.

Never let the tip of the bottle touch your eye, eyelashes or skin, even if it is your own bottle. This prevents bacteria or dirt from getting into the bottle. Close the bottle tightly immediately after use.

Difference from over-the-counter eye drops

The protocol usually relates to diagnostic or prescription eye drops used by eye care professionals during an examination. These are different from the over-the-counter moisturising eye drops that you can use yourself on a daily basis for dry or tired eyes. The protocol does not usually apply to the latter category, as you are using them for personal use anyway.

At SMEYEL , you’ll find moisturising eye drops designed for daily comfort and to rinse the surface of the eye. These drops are for personal use only and should not be shared with others.

What if you forget to use your eye drops?

If you forget to bring your own bottle to your appointment, the practice will decide how to deal with the situation. Some practices have a backup solution, such as disposable vials or a new bottle for you to take home. In other cases, the examination may need to be postponed. If in doubt, contact the practice in advance to ask what their policy is.