Shared eye drops between patients

Specialties Disease

Published

Does anyone use "shared" eye drops preoperatively between patients? If so, how long do you keep the drops after opening?

renerian, BSN, RN

5,693 Posts

Specializes in MS Home Health.

I would hope not...........

renerian

gwenith, BSN, RN

3,755 Posts

Specializes in ICU.

Completely and utterly forbidden/ forbotten/ not done/ conta-indicated/discouraged/against policy

In a word NO!:D

suzanne4, RN

26,410 Posts

Any facility that I have done eye surgery cases in has used single dose eye gtts.

There are little tubes, droppers, etc. made specifically for those purpose.

Talk to your pharmacy or drug supplier. Every type of eye drop is made this way and is available.

They should never be shared................ :uhoh3:

Destinystar

242 Posts

it is against every infection control guideline on earth:chuckle now as for me personally no!!!!!!!!!!!

does anyone use "shared" eye drops preoperatively between patients? if so, how long do you keep the drops after opening?
Specializes in Oncology, ID, Hepatology, Occy Health.
Does anyone use "shared" eye drops preoperatively between patients? If so, how long do you keep the drops after opening?

Never ever.

When I worked in the UK we even had seperate drops for left and right eye.

LadyBugRN

35 Posts

Does anyone use "shared" eye drops preoperatively between patients? If so, how long do you keep the drops after opening?

I have never thought of sharing eye drops between patients! I worked as a medical Technologist in Microbiology laboratory. To prevent spreading disease it should never be allowed. :

LadyBugRN

35 Posts

Does anyone use "shared" eye drops preoperatively between patients? If so, how long do you keep the drops after opening?

I have never thought of sharing eye drops between patients! I worked as a medical Technologist in Microbiology laboratory. To prevent spreading disease it should never be allowed. :

daxyun

3 Posts

I have seen nurses share eye drops because the government is too cheap to supply the hospital with the necessary amount of medication we need. It's like, if the patient does not have the money to pay for the drugs, then they should do without it.

Specializes in Palliative Care, NICU/NNP.
Does anyone use "shared" eye drops preoperatively between patients? If so, how long do you keep the drops after opening?

Any time I've gone to an ophthalmologist's office for an exam they don't open a new bottle for me. I guess they have fewer people handling the drops.

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