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200 Tasks for the Veterinary Assistant

run into chutes or crowded into runs. One hand raises more often through the day than other types. It is impor-
the head under the chin and the other slides the nozzle tant to adhere to the prescribed intervals and number of
of the gun into the mouth between cheek and molars. treatments per day. Ophthalmic ointments are pre-
Squeeze the trigger, mark the patient with a wax crayon, scribed per patient and are not to be used on multiple
and move on to the next. The marking is done so that an patients, mostly because of the contagious nature of
animal doesn’t get a double dose. most eye infections.
To apply ophthalmic medications, gather the
Ophthalmic Medications ointment or drops, a cotton ball, and the patient. If
restraining the patient, put them in a sitting or sternal
recumbency, bring your arms around on either side of
Ophthalmic medications are used exclusively in the eye. the animal, placing a hand on each side of the face. Tilt
It is vital that if you are going to put something into an the face up so it is easier to access the eyes and to prevent
eye you always read the label! (Figure 11.20). Medications the drops from rolling off the eye. In the sitting position,
come in liquid drops or in an ointment form. Both are reach across the back and snug the patient’s side against
applied directly to the surface of the cornea. Because of your front, then reach the other arm around the neck
the production of tears these medications are given
and gently push the patient’s head into your shoulder.
Because of the proximity of the mouth, care is taken for
those patients that may bite.
If you are medicating, the technique is to hold the
ointment tube or dropper bottle in your dominant hand
with the tip pointing down towards the eye with the side
of your little finger placed just below the lower eyelid
(Figure 11.21). Gently pull the eyelid down, tuck your
fingers holding the medication up close to the palm, and
either apply the number of drops prescribed in the
center of the eye or squeeze the tube and lay a “bead” of
ointment across the length of the eye. Care must be
taken to not touch the surface of the eye with either the
dropper bottle or tube. This can scratch the cornea and
contaminate the medication.
Ophthalmic diseases are diagnosed utilizing strips
placed onto the cornea. One type of strip is a corneal dye
that is used to determine if there are scratches on the
surface of the cornea (Figure 11.22). The other is a test
strip called a Schirmer tear test that tests for tear produc-
tion. Another test is for glaucoma, which uses an instru-
ment called a tonometer (Figure 11.23). There are two
types of tonometer: manual and digital. Chances are you
will only assist with the restraint required for these tests,
but gathering the supplies and medications needed will
FIGURE 11.20 Ophthalmic medications. be of great value to the team.

FIGURE 11.21 Administering ophthalmic ointment.