How many drops of eye drops should I take?

Take the number of drops the label’s directions give. For Quell, the directions read: Apply 1 drop 3 times per day in each eye. That’s one drop per eye at each use, three uses a day, six drops in total. If two drops come out by accident, the extra one simply runs off; don’t add more to make up for anything. If that amount doesn’t feel like enough, ask an eye doctor rather than raising it yourself.

How many drops should I use at one time?

One per eye, per Quell’s directions. Many people assume a second drop helps the first one work, but the eye can only hold a small amount of liquid on its surface. Anything more than that spills onto your cheek or drains through the tear duct in the inner corner of the eye. That’s why you sometimes taste eye drops: the overflow ends up at the back of your throat. Why can I taste eye drops? explains the path.

How many drops of eye drops should I take a day?

Three uses a day, one drop in each eye at each use. Here’s how that adds up:

• Per eye: three drops a day.
• Both eyes: six drops a day.
• If you only use it in one eye on a doctor’s advice, follow what they told you; the label itself is written for each eye.

Spacing them out across the day is practical: morning, midday and evening. The label doesn’t set exact times, so pick ones that fit your routine and are easy to remember, like breakfast, lunch and the end of the workday.

What if two drops come out?

It happens, especially with cold hands or a new bottle. A second drop isn’t a problem in itself; it overflows and runs off. Don’t count it as a reason to skip your next scheduled use, and don’t add another drop to the other eye to even things out. Blot your cheek with a clean tissue, close your eye gently for a moment, and carry on.

If it keeps happening, the issue is usually technique. A few things help:

• Tilt your head back or lie down so the bottle is directly above the eye.
• Pull the lower lid down gently with one finger to make a small pocket.
• Squeeze the bottle slowly with steady pressure rather than a quick pinch.
• Rest the hand holding the bottle on your forehead or the bridge of your nose for control.
• Keep the tip clear of your eye and lashes. The label says: Do not touch tip of bottle to any surface to avoid contamination.

What if the drop misses?

If you felt nothing land and the drop ran down your cheek or hit your eyelid, it’s reasonable to try once more. That isn’t taking extra; it’s getting the one labeled drop into the eye. If you miss several times in a row, stop, take a breath and reset your position. How to use eye drops as directed walks through the steps in more detail.

Can I take more drops than the label says?

The label’s directions stop at one line: Apply 1 drop 3 times per day in each eye. It gives no directions for using more. Going past that means going past what the label covers. Over-the-counter directions are written so people can use the product on their own; when the labeled amount doesn’t seem to be enough, that is useful information for an eye doctor, not a cue to double up.

The label also says when to stop: Stop use and ask a doctor if you feel eye pain or changes in your vision, if irritation or redness continues, or if the condition worsens or persists for 72 hours. Needing far more drops than the label gives can be a sign worth having checked. Can I use more than three drops a day? covers that question from the other side.

Does the number change with other drops or contacts?

Quell’s label doesn’t give directions for use alongside other eye drops or with contact lenses. If you use a prescription drop, another over-the-counter drop, or wear contacts, ask your eye doctor or pharmacist how to fit Quell in. The label also doesn’t give directions for children; ask their doctor.

Where the number comes from

Every over-the-counter drug sold in the US carries a Drug Facts panel in a format the FDA sets, and the Directions section is where the amount and frequency live. For Quell, you can read the full panel on the Drug Facts page or on the carton. If the website and the carton ever seem to disagree, the carton in your hand is the one to follow.

At the labeled amount, a .33 fl oz (10 mL) bottle goes further than people expect. How long does a bottle of eye drops last? works through the numbers.