Researchers at China’s Fudan University found almost two-thirds of glaucoma patients struggle to instil eye drops correctly, with self-reported confidence often not matching observed technique. 

Published in BMC Ophthalmology, the hospital-based cross-sectional study assessed 187 adults with glaucoma (mean age 63 years) attending outpatient clinics between August and November 2023. Each participant demonstrated their drop instillation technique and completed a questionnaire. 

While 84% of participants succeeded in squeezing at least one drop from the bottle, only 36% met all criteria for successful instillation, including hand hygiene, accurate dosing, avoiding bottle-tip contact and performing nasolacrimal occlusion. Nearly 43% showed discrepancies between self-reported and observed performance. 

On multivariate analysis, those of older age, bilateral glaucoma, living alone and self-reported difficulty with instillation were all associated with poor technique. Authors said these findings highlight the importance of routine assessment and education on drop administration in glaucoma management, particularly for older or socially isolated patients.