Which sequence reflects the recommended steps for instilling eye drops?

• A. Wash hands - gloves - instill drops without touching dropper to lashes or eye - wash hands
• B. Wash hands and immediately instill, touching lashes
• C. Wear gloves and touch the dropper to lashes
• D. Use a clean area but skip hand washing

Answer: (A)

Maintaining sterility and preventing contamination during eye drop administration is the key idea. The best sequence starts with thorough hand hygiene to remove germs, then donning a protective barrier like gloves to reduce cross-contamination while handling the dropper. Crucially, the dropper tip should never touch the eye or lashes, and the drops should be instilled without directing the tip onto the lid or eye, which helps keep the bottle uncontaminated and the eye infection-free. Afterward, washing hands again helps remove any residue or microbes that may have been transferred during the procedure. The other options fail because they skip hand hygiene, involve touching the lashes with the dropper, or omit hand washing, all of which increase the risk of contamination and infection.