Giving eye drops to a parent or grandparent

Plenty of people notice their eyes feel drier as they get older, so a parent or grandparent can be exactly the person who’d be glad of a bottle. Before you buy, ask whether they already use drops a doctor prescribed.

Ask about the drops they already use

Quell’s label doesn’t cover use with other eye drops. If they put anything prescribed in their eyes, they should check with that doctor before adding Quell. A pharmacist can help with over-the-counter combinations, especially if they bring every label along.

Make the label easy to read

The carton’s print is small. The Drug Facts page shows the same panel on screen, where it can be zoomed or printed in a larger size and kept with the bottle. Two lines to point out: the directions, “Apply 1 drop 3 times per day in each eye,” and the color, because Product appears as a milky brown solution.

Squeezing the bottle

Some people find small bottles fiddly with stiff fingers. If that’s them, offer to sit with them for the first drop. The label also asks them not to let the tip touch anything: Do not touch tip of bottle to any surface to avoid contamination.

Getting it there

Use their name and address at checkout and your own email, so you can follow the package. If they live alone, let them know it’s coming so the box doesn’t sit on the step in the cold.

The allergy question

Caution should be used in those with egg or bird allergies — For use in the eyes only. Quell contains emu oil, so check this before you buy, even if it means asking a slightly odd question over dinner. Ordering for someone else has the rest.