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 a standard or safe technique for medication administration. Approaching from the side or slightly above the client's field of vision helps reduce the blink reflex, which is naturally triggered when an object moves directly toward the pupil. Proper positioning ensures the medication reaches the intended site without causing unnecessary trauma or contamination of the sterile dropper tip. Choice B rationale Instilling drops into the inner canthus is incorrect because this area contains the nasolacrimal duct. If medication is placed directly here, it can be drained into the systemic circulation through the nasal mucosa, potentially causing systemic side effects. The goal is to keep the medication in the conjunctival sac for local absorption. Nurses should actually apply pressure to the inner canthus after instillation to prevent this systemic drainage. Choice C rationale Asking the client to look down is counterproductive during the administration of eye drops. Looking down moves the cornea into a position where it is more likely to be touched by the dropper or the medication, which can cause discomfort and stimulate the blink reflex. Instead, the client should be instructed to look up toward the ceiling to expose the lower conjunctival sac and protect the sensitive corneal surface. Choice D rationale Holding the dropper approximately 2 cm or three quarters of an inch above the lower conjunctival sac is the correct technique. This distance is sufficient to prevent the dropper from touching the eye or lashes, which maintains the sterility of the container. It also ensures the drop falls precisely into the sac rather than on the cornea, which reduces irritation and ensures the client receives the full prescribed dose of medication.