Produced by: Roxanne Davison Review date: Feb 18 Version
Approved by: Caroline Houlton & Dr Richard Spiers Date:
Eye Drop & Single Dose Eye Preparation
Quantities
Summary
Guidance on appropriate ordering quantities for eye drops and single dose eye preparations supplied on
FP10 prescriptions.
To ensure expenditure in this area is appropriate and consistent.
To reduce inappropriate or duplicate requests for supply.
To ensure appropriate prescribing quantities for this group of patients to avoid waste.
Aim/Purpose/Background
This is a cost and quality intervention;
Identify patients prescribed eye drops and single dose eye preparations.
Review patients repeat medication to ensure appropriate prescribing quantities of eye drops and single
dose eye preparations.are prescribed.
Review patients prescribed single dose eye preparations to ensure they have a documented clinical
need.
Ensure that patients obtain repeat supplies of clinically necessary eye drop preparations in a timely
manner.
Guidance for Action
Run a report on patients currently prescribed eye preparations (drops and single dose preparations).
Review quantities prescribed.
For eye drops:
o On average a drop is about 0.05mL (20 drops per mL).
Dosage
mL’s required per month
(One eye only)*
mL’s required per month
(both eyes)*
1 drop once daily
2mL
4mL
1 drop twice daily
3mL
6mL
1 drop three times daily
5mL
10mL
1 drop four times daily
6mL
12mL
1 drop five times daily
7mL
14mL
*A bottle(s) closest in volume but which contains the number of mL’s required should be prescribed. For
example if 3mL is required a 5mL bottle should be prescribed where available.
If 14mL is required either 2 X 10mL OR 10ml + 5ml should be prescribed depending on availability.
o Majority of eye drops expire 28 days after opening.
For single dose preparations, the same unit dose can be used for both eyes but it is good
practice to use separate units if one eye is infected and the other is not - or the left and
right eye are infected with different organisms.
