Which hygiene step is recommended before instilling eye drops to prevent contamination?

• A. Wash hands - wear gloves - avoid touching dropper to lashes or eye - wash hands
• B. Wash hands after instillation
• C. Share the bottle with others after use
• D. Skip hand hygiene if you are careful

Answer: (A)

Controlling contamination during eye-drop instillation hinges on clean hands and keeping the dropper tip sterile. Thoroughly washing your hands before handling the bottle reduces the risk that bacteria or other contaminants get onto the dropper or into the eye. Wearing clean gloves adds an extra barrier in clinical or high-risk settings, but the essential habit is preventing contact between the dropper tip and the eye or eyelashes, which is a common route for transferring organisms. Washing hands again after administration helps prevent spreading any contaminants that may have touched your hands. Sharing the bottle with others increases the chance of transmitting infection, and skipping hand hygiene because you’re careful does not protect against unseen contamination. So the recommended approach is to perform hand hygiene, consider a protective glove in appropriate contexts, keep the dropper tip from touching the eye or lashes, and wash hands after.