Do you need to shake eye drops?
Only if the label says so, and Quell’s doesn’t. Its directions read: Apply 1 drop 3 times per day in each eye. There is no instruction to shake the bottle first.
Why people ask about Quell
Because it is milky. Product appears as a milky brown solution, which is how it is meant to look, and milky solutions make people wonder whether something has settled. The label’s instruction about appearance is a different one: do not use it if the color changes from how it arrived.
Other drops can differ
Some products do include “shake well” in their directions, so read each label on its own terms. The instruction that applies to a bottle is the one printed on it.
If you are unsure
Ask a pharmacist, with the carton or the Drug Facts page in front of you. Either way, the handling rule still applies: Do not touch tip of bottle to any surface to avoid contamination.
Storage, not shaking
What the label does ask about is where the bottle is kept: Store between 15° to 30°C (59° to 86°F). How to store eye drops covers that in full.
Quell Preservative-Free Lubricating Eye Drops
.33 fl oz (10 mL). An over-the-counter drug, so no prescription is needed. Flat $10.00 shipping anywhere in the United States, free on 3 bottles or more.
More on using and storing drops
This guide is general information, not medical advice. Quell is an over-the-counter lubricating eye drop for use in the eyes only. Read and follow the Drug Facts panel before use.