If you’ve been diagnosed with glaucoma, one of the most commonly prescribed treatments is eye drop medications. Eye drops are used to manage glaucoma by lowering intraocular pressure (IOP). They typically help the fluid in your eye drain better and/or reduce the amount of fluid your eye produces.

Here are some useful tips on how to self-administer eye drop medications and minimize undesirable potential side effects.*

How to avoid unpleasant side effects from eye drops

When you administer eye drops, some of the liquid can go into your tear drainage system (nasolacrimal duct), which is located in the corner of your eye by your nose. From there, it moves to the sinuses and is absorbed into the blood. You may experience uncomfortable side effects when the drug reaches other parts of the body, such as the heart, liver, or kidneys.

These side effects can include:

• Asthma
• Low blood pressure
• High blood pressure
• Changes in heart rhythm
• Depression
• Nervousness

To avoid these side effects, the nasolacrimal occlusion (NLO) technique is recommended when self-administering eye drops.

What is the NLO technique?

The NLO technique:

• Prevents your eye drop medication from getting into your drainage duct
• Makes sure more medicine stays in your eye
• Makes the medicine more effective

How to apply the NLO technique

1. Tilt your head back. 
2. Using your middle finger, gently press the corner of the eye by the side of the nose.  
3. Use your index finger to pull down the lower lid , and apply the eye drop medicine.
4. After applying the eye drop, let go of your lower lid. 
5. Close the eye and keep the middle finger in place for at least two minutes.
6. Wipe away any excess eye drops on your eyelids with facial tissue.

If you need to administer more than one type of drop, you must wait at least 15 minutes before you do the next application.

Additional eye drops tips

In addition to the NLO technique, the following tips are important to follow when using eye drops.

• Before you administer eye drops, make sure to wash your hands carefully. 
• When handling eye drops, make sure that the dropper stays clean.
• When administering eye drops, don’t let the dropper touch, or make contact, with any part of your eye.
• If the bottle feels too small in your hand, you can wrap additional material, like a paper towel, around the bottle to make the bottle wider and give you a better grip. (There are also assistive devices available to help people put in eye drops.)
• Store eye drops somewhere safe to keep them out of reach of children and pets.

*Prevent Blindness. (Accessed on May, 2026). “Taking Eye Drop Medications”. preventblindness.org

The information provided by The Glaucoma Community is for educational purposes only and does not replace professional medical advice. Always talk with your healthcare provider before making changes to your treatment or care. The Glaucoma Community does not endorse specific treatments, providers, or products.