When administering eye drops, what technique should be used?

When administering eye drops, the use of an aseptic technique is crucial to prevent contamination of the eye and ensure the patient’s safety. Aseptic technique focuses on maintaining a clean environment and minimizing the risk of introducing pathogens during the procedure. This includes washing hands thoroughly before the administration, using gloves if necessary, and ensuring that the dropper tip does not come into contact with any surface, including the eye itself, to avoid introducing bacteria.

In context, while sterile technique typically involves the use of sterile equipment and environments, this level of sterility is not always required for the administration of eye medications outside of surgical procedures. Non-sterile technique would compromise the safety of the procedure, and standard hygienic technique, although useful, may not adequately address all the specific requirements necessary for eye drop administration. Therefore, employing an aseptic technique is the best practice to ensure the integrity of the medication and the safety of the patient.