After administering eye drops, the patient is asked to close their eyes. This action helps to?

After administering eye drops, the patient is asked to close their eyes. This action helps to?

• A. Limit corneal irritation
• B. Squeeze the excess medication from the eyes
• C. Disperse the medication over the conjunctiva and eyeball
• D. Prevent medication from entering the lacrimal duct

Answer: (C)

Closing the eyes after eye drops helps the medication spread evenly across the eye’s surface. When the lids stay shut, the tear film carries the liquid around the conjunctiva and over the eyeball, increasing the area that the drug contacts and giving it longer time to be absorbed by the cornea and conjunctiva. It also reduces immediate drainage from blinking and tear turnover, so the drop isn’t washed away too quickly. This is why distribution over the ocular surface is the best description of what closing the eyes accomplishes. Squeezing out excess, limiting irritation, or blocking drainage are not the primary effects of this action.

Closing the eyes after eye drops helps the medication spread evenly across the eye’s surface. When the lids stay shut, the tear film carries the liquid around the conjunctiva and over the eyeball, increasing the area that the drug contacts and giving it longer time to be absorbed by the cornea and conjunctiva. It also reduces immediate drainage from blinking and tear turnover, so the drop isn’t washed away too quickly. This is why distribution over the ocular surface is the best description of what closing the eyes accomplishes. Squeezing out excess, limiting irritation, or blocking drainage are not the primary effects of this action.