atropine

For use during routine eye exams: You'll typically get atropine (Isopto Atropine) placed in the eye(s) at the eye specialist's office during a routine eye exam. After your appointment, consider wearing sunglasses when you go outside since your pupils might still be dilated and your eyes will be sensitive to light. It might be a good idea to have someone drive you to and from your eye appointment.

For use at home for lazy eye: Follow the eye specialist's instructions when you or your child uses atropine (Isopto Atropine) at home for treating lazy eye. This makes sure you use the medication safely. Wash your hands with soap and water before and after you use the medication to prevent it from getting into the mouth.

Atropine (Isopto Atropine) can blur your vision and cause light sensitivity, sometimes lasting a couple weeks. Some people might also feel drowsy after they use this medication. Don't drive a car or operate machinery until you know how this medication affects you.

Don't let the tip of the tube or eye drop bottle touch the eye, eyelid, fingers, or other surfaces. Otherwise, atropine (Isopto Atropine) can get contaminated with germs and cause serious harm to the eye, like infection and vision loss.

If you wear contact lenses, make sure to take them out before you place atropine (Isopto Atropine) into the eye. The eye drops contain a preservative that can damage your lenses. Wait at least 15 minutes after you place the medication in your eye before putting your lenses back in. Check with your eye specialist about using contact lenses during treatment with atropine (Isopto Atropine).

While looking up, pull down your lower eyelid with one hand and hold the eye drop bottle upside down above your eye. Then, squeeze the number of drops you need for your dose.

After you place the drop(s) in your eye, close your eye for 2 to 3 minutes. Press down on the inner corner of your eye near your nose with your finger for a minute to keep the medication in your eye and prevent it from leaking. Wipe away any extra medication from your face with a clean, dry tissue.

If you need to use another eye drop medication with atropine (Isopto Atropine) in the same eye, wait at least 5 minutes so the second eye drop doesn't rinse off the first one.

First, tilt your head back slightly. Then, pull down your lower eyelid with one hand and hold the tube of ointment with the other. Place a half-inch strip of ointment in the space between your eyelid and eye.

After you place the ointment into the eye, gently blink and then close your eye for 1 to 2 minutes to help the medication reach all the necessary parts of the eye. Press down on the inner corner of your eye near your nose with your finger for 2 to 3 minutes so the medication stays in your eye.

Have your child lie down on their back on a flat surface. Ask them to tilt their head up and to look up. Then, rest the wrist of the hand that's holding atropine (Isopto Atropine) on your child's forehead.

Pull down your child's lower eyelid with your other hand, and apply the medication along the lower eyelid away from the inner corner near the nose. Afterwards, ask your child to close or blink their eyes for a minute to spread the medication throughout the eye.