Blog vol 2. 43. An enjoyable evening.
Back before covid (B.C.), spring, 2019, to be precise, my wife and I purchased tickets to go see our favourite classical pianist, the incomparable Lang Lang who was coming to Toronto in May, 2020. We would have to wait close to three years. This past Monday, we finally went to enjoy a long anticipated evening.
He did not disappoint; his enthusiasm, showmanship, and artistry are brilliant. Even when it comes to putting in eye drops, he’s got it down, yes, even eye drops. After finishing a variation, in the middle of Bach’s Goldberg Variations, he pulled out a bottle of eye drops, one eye, the other eye, quick wipe, done, next variation on the beat. The appreciative audience chuckled at his skill, and his humanness.
It got me thinking about eye drops. Lang Lang must have practised that procedure many times, it was so automatic, it flowed. We can learn many lessons from that simple act. Putting something in our eye does not come naturally. Our natural reflex is to protect our eyes. How do we acquire this skill? Practise.
Step 1: Read your doctor's instructions for timing and dosage. If you need to take more than one type of eye drop at the same time, wait 3 to 5 minutes between the different kinds of medication.
Step 2: Get prepared. Always wash your hands before handling your eye drops or touching your eyes. Shake the drops vigorously before using them. Remove the cap of the eye drop medication but do not touch the dropper tip.
Step 3: Place the drops into your eye. Tilt your head back slightly and look up. Some people find it helpful to focus on a specific point on the ceiling. Use one hand to pull your lower eyelid down, away from the eye. This forms a pocket to catch the drop. Hold the dropper tip directly over the eyelid pocket. Don’t touch the bottle to your eye or eyelid. Squeeze the bottle gently and let the eye drop fall into the pocket.
Too anxious to insert eye drops? You are not alone. Try this method: lean your head back as far as is comfortable, or lay down on a bed or couch. Keep your eyes closed. Hold the eye drop bottle with your thumb and first two fingers. Put the other two fingers of the same hand on your nose for stability. Without touching the bottle to your eyelid, put an eye drop in the corner of your eye near your nose. While your head is still tilted back, open your eyes and blink several times until the drop rolls into the eye. If you're still having trouble, ask a family member, neighbor or friend to help you. Ask your doctor about eye drop assistance devices. These devices can help you aim the drop, squeeze the bottle and keep your eye open.
Step 4: Close your eyes and don't blink!
Apply gentle pressure to your tear ducts, where the eyelid meets the nose. Hold the tear ducts closed for a minute or two—or as long as your eye doctor recommends—before opening your eyes. This will give the drop time to be absorbed by the eye, instead of draining into your nose. If any drops leaked out, use a tissue to wipe them from your closed eyelids.
Step 5: Wash your hands. It's important to wash your hands with soap and water after handling medication and touching your face.
Lang Lang streamlined this process, but what skill! Wow!
Til next week,
the good doctor
