Definition
Performing eye care is a gentle, essential nursing procedure aimed at maintaining eye hygiene, preventing infection, and promoting comfort, especially in patients who are unconscious, post-operative, or unable to perform self-care.
Purposes for Eye Care
- To relieve pain and discomfort.
- To prevent infection.
- To prevent any further injury to eye.
- To provide instillation of an eye drops or application of an eye ointment.
Articles
A clean tray containing;
- Gallipot
- Cottonballs
- Disposable towel
- Sterile swabbing solution, e.g., normal saline
- K- basin
- Sterile gloves (if eye is infected)
- Mackintosh
- Pillow
Procedure for Eye Care
| NURSING ACTION | RATIONALE | |
| 1 | Before procedure Check the physician’s order, progress notes, and nursing care plan. | Obtains specific instruction/ information. |
| 2 | Identify the patient. | |
| 3 | Explain to patient what will be done and how he may cooperate. Allow patient to ask questions. | Obtains patient’s consent and cooperation and promotes patient education. |
| 4 | Ensure privacy. | Avoids unnecessary embarrassment. |
| 5 | Collect and prepare articles. | |
| 6 | Position the patient comfortably, preferably in the supine position or seated with head inclined backward. | |
| 7 | Ensure adequate light source taking care not to dazzle the patient. | Enables maximum observation of the eye without causing the patient harm or discomfort. |
| 8 | During procedure: Wash and dry hands. | Prevents infection. |
| 9 | Always treat the uninfected eye first. | Avoids cross-infection. |
| 10 | Always bathe the lids first, with the eyes closed. | Avoids secretion on the lid from entering into eyes. |
| 11 | Lightly moisten swab in the prescribed solution. | If the swab is too wet, the solution will run down the patient cheek. This increases the risk of cross-infection. |
| 12 | Gently swab from the inner canthus of the eye to the outer canthus using each swab only once until all discharge has been removed. | Document the procedure appropriately and report any abnormal findings. |
| 13 | Gently dry the patient’s eyelids to remove excess moisture. | |
| 14 | Ensure that the patient is comfortable. | |
| 15 | Replace the equipment safely. | |
| 16 | After procedure Wash hands and dry. | |
| 17 | Document the procedure appropriately and report any abnormal findings. |
Special Considerations
- Use normal saline or prescribed solution—never plain water.
- Avoid pressing on the eyeball, especially in post-op or trauma cases.
- For infants, use soft gauze and extra caution with pressure and temperature.
- If applying eye drops or ointment, do so after cleaning and follow the “lower conjunctival sac” technique.
REFERENCES
- Annamma Jacob, Rekha, Jhadav Sonali Tarachand: Clinical Nursing Procedures: The Art of Nursing Practice, 5th Edition, March 2023, Jaypee Publishers, ISBN-13: 978-9356961845 ISBN-10: 9356961840
- Omayalachi CON, Manual of Nursing Procedures and Practice, Vol 1, 3 Edition 2023, Published by Wolters Kluwer’s, ISBN: 978-9393553294
- Sandra Nettina, Lippincott Manual of Nursing Practice, 11th Edition, January 2019, Published by Wolters Kluwer’s, ISBN-13:978-9388313285
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