A nurse is preparing to administer ophthalmic solution to a client. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?

Choice A rationale Bringing the dropper from below the client's eye is not the standard technique and increases the risk of the client blinking or moving their head due to the visible approach of the instrument. Safety protocols dictate that the nurse should approach from the side or slightly above while stabilizing the hand on the client's forehead. This prevents accidental trauma to the cornea if the client moves suddenly and ensures the medication is delivered accurately and safely. Choice B rationale Instilling drops into the upper eyelid is incorrect because the medication will likely run out of the eye and fail to reach the intended mucosal surfaces for absorption. The upper eyelid is naturally tighter against the globe, making it an ineffective reservoir for liquid medications. Proper administration requires using the lower conjunctival sac, which acts as a natural basin to hold the solution and allows it to distribute evenly across the eye through the process of blinking. Choice C rationale Asking the client to look down during the instillation of eye drops is counterproductive because it exposes the sensitive cornea to the falling liquid. This can trigger a strong blink reflex, which may expel the medication before it is absorbed. The client should be instructed to look up toward the ceiling. This action moves the cornea away from the lower lid and opens the conjunctival sac, providing a safer and more effective target for the medication. Choice D rationale Holding the ophthalmic solution approximately 2 cm or 3/4 inch above the lower conjunctival sac is the correct procedure to ensure sterile delivery without touching the eye. This distance is sufficient to prevent the tip of the dropper from becoming contaminated by the client's skin or eyelashes. Maintaining this height also prevents accidental injury to the eye structures while allowing the drop to fall cleanly into the conjunctival pocket for maximum therapeutic effect and safe absorption.