Preforming Ear and Eye irrigation

Irrigation instruments, supplies, and techniques

Why would the eye need to be irrigated?

to remove a foreign body or chemical irritants

Why would ear need to irrigated?

to remove a foreign body or remove wax that prevents the provider from seeing the tympanic membrane through the otoscope

What does eye irrigation require

sterile technique and equipment

Like any procedure what should you do first?

introduce yourself and identify the patient, explain the procedure to the patient and reason why it needs to be preformed

Supplies for eye irrigation include:

sterile basin, a return basin, sterile soultion, a sterile irrigating syringe, sterile gauze, tissues, towel, a waterproof drape, and non-sterile gauze

Preform triple check of the

medication and provider;s order and the rights of administration and check for exp dares on all medication and supplies

Before preforming eye irrigation what needs to be done?

warm irrigation soultion to normal body temp by placing soultion in a basin of warm water, place patient in a supine or sitting position and place a waterproof drape on patient shoulder to absorb any soultion if any spills.

Clean eyelid with …

gauze pad moistened with sterile solution from the inner to outer canthus (corner) of the eye, where the upper and lower lids meet. Repeat with a new one until the eyelid is clean. Instruct the patient to tilt the head towards the side that is being irrigated. Hold the return basin below the affected eye and have pt look straight ahead at a fixed object while keeping both eyes open

To begin eye irrigation:

using thumb and index finger of nondominat hand, pull upward on pt upper lid and downward on pt. lower lid - hold eye open and maintain position during irrigation. Domaint hand holding irrigation bottle of soultion on or near the bridge of the nose and hold the tip of the soultion about an inch above the eye. Start squeezing bottle so solution flows from the inner canthus to the outer canthis in a steady stream directed toward the lower conjuctiva

Important to not

touch any part of eye or skin with the tip of the soultion applicator

Continue flow until irrigation soultion is

empty and desired results are achieved, repeat on other eye if needed

Once done with eye irrigation you should

collect basin and dry eyelid with gauze once again moving from inner to outer canthus. Provide a towel to dry skin and assist in getting to a comfortable position. Note any visible debris in return basin

What is ear irrigation necessary for?

to remove impacted cerumen, or earwax, or foreign matter from the ear

Supplies for ear irrigation

ear syringe, sterile basin, return basin, warmed irrigation soultion, a waterproof drape, towel, and gauze or cotton balls

How should patient be positioned?

have patient sitting or lying on the side with the affected ear facing up, place waterproof drape over shoulder of side being irrigated

How to preform ear irriagation

using otoscope, examine affected ear taking note of cerumen or foreign bodies. Cleanse outer ear with gauze pad with irrigating soultion, Instruct pt to tilt head towards side being irrigated and hold ear wash basin tightly below affected ear. Gently insert disposable tip into ear so its positioned toward top of ear canal. Start spraying solution by pushing trigger on spray bottle, checking tubing remains straight. Continue spraying until all soultion is all done and max time has been reached or obtained desired results.

After ear irrigation is done

remove tip from pt. ear allowing any residual soultion to drain out and place loose cotton ball in canal. Take return basin from pt, observing any debris, and instruct them to lie on the side that was irrigated for 15 min

If policy allows following ear irrigation you can

examine ear with otoscope to see if all cerumen has been removed