Eye Drops for Heroes

As an Eye Dr, I, Dr. John Lipchak O.D., have witnessed the instinctual reaction thousands of times - the fear of the bottle scratching the eye and the sting of the eyedrop making some tilt their head when squeezing, causing the drop to end up on their cheek. We all share this apprehension.

To address this issue, I invented and patented the Eye Drop Hero (EDH) - a device with 24 holes to securely hold the bottle (even with hand tremors), making you feel comfortable and safe, especially important for protecting the eye after surgery. The EDH controls the drop, so you only need to control your head tilt.

For kids, the EDH's sturdiness appeals to them, and they enjoy putting it on like a superhero's mask. The instructions recommend pushing the bottle all the way into the designated hole (with the tip sticking through the backside). Lie down flat on a bed, put on the EDH (which touches the nose the same way each time), and ask the child to keep their eyes closed and head still until ready to blink. Ensure the nose and face are pointed straight up, not tilted left or right. Squeeze the bottle and remove the mask. Blinking and gravity will funnel the drop into the eye, and the child will feel when the drop enters. Then, close the eye and keep it closed for 3 minutes. If the drop doesn't land in the corner of the eyelid by the nose, switch holes.

I also use the EDH with my own dry-eye drops. I load two bottles of gel drops, one on each side of the EDH, flip the strap around to the front, and tape it there 24/7 until the bottles are empty. I place the setup in a gallon-sized ziplock bag next to my bed. Right before sleep and anytime I wake up, I put a drop into each eye using the open-eye and look-up method, making sure to tilt my head back in a consistent manner (never right or left). Drops hitting the clear front part of the eyes can be shocking and painful, which is why doctors typically pull down the lower lid as you look up, allowing the drop to hit the white part of the eye.

Tip: If your eyes feel worse upon awakening, you may be sleeping with your eyes open.

Ask your eye doctor about the closed-eye method, which is legitimate according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology. If they don't believe it works, suggest they test it next time they use their yellow drops. The EDH is hypoallergenic and easily disinfected with rubbing alcohol (I disinfect the inside of the bottle cap as well). It works for single-use vials and any bottle that can stick through the backside. The EDH is made in the USA and available in a 2-pack, allowing you to lock in different types of drops.

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