If eye drops have been prescribed for treating your glaucoma, you need to use them properly and as instructed by your eye care professional. Proper use of your glaucoma medication can improve the medicine’s effectiveness and reduce your risk of side effects. To correctly apply your eye drops, follow these steps: • First, wash your hands. • Hold the bottle upside down. • Tilt your head back. • Hold the bottle in one hand and place it as close as possible to the eye. • With the other hand, pull down your lower eyelid which forms a pocket. • Place the prescribed number of drops into the lower eyelid pocket. If you are using more than one eye drop, be sure to wait at least five minutes before applying the second eye drop. • Close your eye or press the lower lid lightly with your finger for at least one minute. Either of these steps keeps the drops in the eye and helps prevent the drops from draining into the tear duct, which can increase your risk of side effects.