After administering medication to an affected eye, how long should you wait before giving a second medication?

When administering medication to the eye, it is important to allow time between the different medications to ensure that they do not interact and to maximize their effectiveness. The general guideline for waiting between administering eye drops is about 5 minutes. This time allows the first medication to absorb properly and minimizes the risk of the second drop washing away the first.

If medications are administered too closely together, the second drop may not be as effective because it might not adhere to the eye as well or it may dilute or wash away the first. Therefore, waiting for 5 minutes strikes the right balance, ensuring optimal absorption and therapeutic effects for the medications used.