Eye drops after cataract op

[thesandwich]

Hi, would appreciate any advice or wisdom. My 90 year old Mum is having her eye done soon and I am concerned about whether she can manage the drops 4 times a day. She lives alone
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She currently has a carer mon fri to help her shower/ dress but little else. She has arthritus in her shoulders and walks with a frame in her house. The hospital has said they can supply a gadget to make it easier...but what about opening the drops etc? Any advice welcome!

If the carer opened the bottle initially, and then your mum just put it back on very loosely each time, there seem to be lots of gadgets to help - this leaflet shows lots

Thanks!

It is easier to administer the drops if you lie down first.
Everyone told me that cataract OP’s are painless but I suffered both during one of the OP’s and on both occasions afterwards. I have a low pain threshold. Generally the medic talk about “ some discomfort” soI was really worried when I suffered from intense pain for 3 days. So do reassure your mum after the op that it is ok if her eye hurts, to take paracetamol and grit her teeth because it will get better soon. The results are well worth it.

My nearly 90 mum was able to use hers. It was a bit fiddly and sometimes it went more down her face than in her eye but she was able to get enough in to keep her eye lubricated (which is what they are for). She was given enough so it didn't matter if some missed the eye at the first attempt, and the 4 times a day isn't a rigid requirement - a bit more or a bit less will be fine.

She may well need the tops loosened for her. Whoever takes her home after the procedure could do this.

With regard to pain: we sat in the clinic with patient after patient coming out really quickly saying that was fine, no pain. Then poor mum had a bit of an ordeal as the doctor found hers more fiddly and had to make several attempts before he got the new lens in. When she had the second one done, however, it was simple and quick and pain free. So, cross fingers, she'll be in the fortunate majority not the unfortunate minority.

Thanks for the advice

Yes, if you lie down and close your eyes, put a drop in the corner of your eye, then open your eyes and blink the drops go in easily.

The drops my mum had weren't difficult to open (ie not a childproof lid) but the first opening needs a bit more effort to break the seal. It's a very small bottle, are your mum's hands ok to handle something small and fiddly? Again, if it's the same drops my mum had, the bottle needs to be shaken, unscrew the lid, hold it upside down above the eye and press the bottom of the bottle to release a drop. It's not difficult (although getting it in the eye takes some practice!). Does your mother have limited mobility in her shoulder?

Another thing is mental capacity to ensure the right number of daily drops and total duration. Unfortunately my mum had difficulty grasping that so I did most of her drops, hence I know so much about them.

Thanks all.

if you ask district nurses they may agree to visit twice daily to do the drops with the carer doing the other ones?

Thanks!🌺