As such, it has become practice in some facilities for eye drop containers to be shared among patients. Communal eye drops may be used in both outpatient and inpatient areas to prevent waste, control cost, and for convenience to avoid constant entry into automated dispensing cabinets and inventory replacement. Some health professionals are concerned that communal containers might be contaminated, which could risk patient infection. There are few large-scale studies that directly examine the safety of sharing eye drop containers. However, existing literature indicates that ocular cross-contamination will occur.
Preservatives ordinarily prevent bacterial growth in the solution.
Still, bacteria may be present on bottle top inner surfaces or container grooves and tips. Hovding et al 1 examined 638 in-use containers. 3 Additional studies confirm that in-use container contamination occurred, and that serious eye infections can be transmitted from such containers. These studies also refute the belief that doctors, nurses and patients will always apply eye drops properly, without touch contamination. The likelihood of infection may increase for those with compromised immune systems or wounds such as penetrating eye injury or recent surgery.