When a patient requires the instillation of two eye drops hourly, what is the best practice?

The best practice when a patient requires the instillation of two eye drops hourly is to establish a schedule of administering one drop on the hour and one drop on the half hour. This approach ensures that the eye drops are given at regular intervals, which helps maintain consistent therapeutic levels in the eye.

Administering the drops this way avoids potential interactions between the two medications, as different drops may have different active ingredients or preservatives that could affect each other's absorption or efficacy. Additionally, it provides sufficient time between doses for each drop to be adequately absorbed, minimizing the risk of washing one drop away with the application of another, thereby maximizing the treatment's effectiveness.

Establishing a set schedule also helps the patient or caregiver to remember when to administer each drop, reducing the likelihood of missed doses. This structured approach promotes better adherence to the prescribed treatment regimen, ultimately leading to better patient outcomes.