My son is five years old and has pink eye for the first time. This afternoon, he resisted the eye drops initially but then gave in and admitted it wasn't so bad. However, when it came time for the second dose he became hysterical and my husband and I practically had to restrain him forcibly in order to give him the drops, which he needs in both eyes. He needs these drops three times daily. I can't imagine another session like the one we just went through. Does anyone have any suggestions?
Thanks! So far, he's refusing to pull out his lower lid, but this morning the "closed eye" method suggested by Tracy O worked really well. A vast improvement over the hysterics of last night - I appreciate your input.
My doctor had me have my son lay his head in my lap and close his eyes, then I would put the reccomended dosage into the inner corner of his eyes, and then blink a few times, close the eyes, roll them around a little with his lids shut and blink. That ddeemed to help a lot. Good luck.
This will sound crazy, but I'm in my 30's and can't stand to get eye drops. When I was younger I needed eye drops and I'm sure I reacted like your son...if not worse. The Dr. told my mom that they could have me close my eyes and put the drops in the corner of my eye and then have me open my eyes and turn my head carefully to the side while still laying down. I remember it working well and this is STILL how I put eye drops in if I need to. The Dr. said it didn't matter how the drops got in your eye as long as they did. Maybe that will help a little. Good luck and sorry your son is having such a hard time. :O(
When I was little and had pink eye my dad laid my head in his lap and told me a story about a farmer and a drought. The farmer went outside one day and looked up in the sky and a raindrop fell in his eye. Obviously when the raindrop fell in the farmer's eye that is when my dad put the drops in my eyes. It worked really well for me!(I think i was about 5.)
My son is the same way. One way that may work and is along the same lines as just putting in the corners is place the eye dropper across the bridge of the nose so that the dropper is just over the corner of the eye. The dropper won't seem like it is pointing into the eye. Then the drop will go into the eye and maybe he won't be so scared. Good luck.
In addition to putting in the corner of their eye, let them lye on your pillow or dad's. For some reason they think it is a treat. At least my daughter did. She was the same way, but after about one day and she realized it was making her feel better, she did not put up that much stink. Eye drops are just not fun! Good Luck!
We also went through this and we ended up using this method:
She would lay flat on her bed and we would put the drops into the corners of her eyes and when she was ready she could blink them in.
Works like a charm.
The best way I found to put in eye drops for myself and my kids is to have them sit straight up, pull down the lower eye lid (kiddo can do that if they prefer), tell them to look at the ceiling and drop it inside the lid. That way they don't get the fear of something poking them in the eye or a crazy blinding drop of liquid to the pupil.
As an adult, I'm not incredibly fond of eye drops myself. Instead of dropping it onto his eyeball, pull the bottom lid of his eye down (like you're making a monster face) and just let the drop leak into his eye. Less trauma and not such a shock. Also, hold the bottle in your hand for a minute or so so the drops are not cold. See what happens.
Tracy's advice is the same I'm giving you. Have him lightly close his eyes and then put one drop in the inside corner of his eye (closest to his nose) and then have him slowly/gently open his eyes and the medicine will enter slowly and not be as shocking to his system. I have dry eyes and this is the method I use which was suggested by our doctor when my daughter had pink eye years ago. Good luck.
My 5 year old just had pink eye last week and the doc taught us the same method. One thing I would add to it, is to make sure they lay flat and tilt their chin up. This way it will definitely run into the corner of their eyes. Otherwise, it will just run down their cheeks. Good luck!
The ointment, as Allysia B mentioned, is definitely easier to apply. You must request from. The practitioners don't seem to mention the availability.
The ointment also seemed to clear the infection up quicker than drops. It was also good to know that Pink eye is preventable and according to the doctor is harder to "catch" that many things which are contagious.
How to help prevent: regular hand washing. According to the doctor kids get pink more from touching things, like the floor, then touching or rubbing their eye. I now try and keep my child off floors in public places. Good luck.
The antibiotic used for pinkeye also comes in an ointment and usually only has to be applied twice a day. My daughter had pinkeye a few months ago (she was 20 months). I turned on a favorite show of hers and sat her on my lap facing the movie. I then told her what was going to happen and asked her if she was ready. Sometimes the answer was "no" and we would wait a few seconds then I would ask her again. When she was ready I told her to watch her show...while I pulled down her lower lid to apply the ribbon of ointment. It's a reflex to protect the eye but for us as long as she was sitting upright and knew what to expect, and had some control over the situation she did great. Maybe your son would prefer to sit upright and tilt his head back, or try giving him some say in how the meds are administered. Good luck!
