Eye dropper alignment apparatus and method for using same
The present application discloses a new and novel system and apparatus for improving the accuracy with which a person may apply eye drops to their own eye. The apparatus holds a bottle of eye drops at a fixed and certain distance above the eye, beside the nose, and below the forehead brow such that the user may easily apply eye drops consistently to one particular portion of their own eye. The apparatus sits on the nasion of the nose using a nasal bridge device and also rests on two pillars that are placed on the user's forehead. Used in such a manner, the apparatus facilitates one-handed eye drop application, facilitates both non-visual alignment and oblique alignment, and reduces reflective blinking.
1. An eyedropper holder comprising:
a delivery platform with a front and a back;
at least two forehead pillars extending perpendicular from the top of the back side of the delivery platform,
at least one delivery well, the depth wise dimension of the delivery well directed perpendicular to the plane of the delivery platform; and
a nasal bridge extending down from the back side of the delivery platform, comprising a first contour for mating engagement with a first corresponding contour of the user's nasion and a second contour for mating engagement with a second corresponding contour of the user's nasion.
2. The holder of claim 1 , wherein the first contour extends along a first axis line between the eyes of a user and the second contour extends along a second axis line perpendicular to the first axis line.
3. The holder of claim 1 , wherein the at least two forehead pillars are located at opposite corners along a first edge of the delivery platform.
4. The holder of claim 1 , wherein the nasal bridge is in a plane parallel to the plane of the delivery platform, the arc of the nasal bridge being sized to set atop and cradle the lowest point of the human user's nasion where a nasal bone meets the forehead, comprising the first and second corresponding contours, and the ends of the nasal bridge comprising a pair of cantilevers which straddle the sides of a user's nose.
5. A four-point eye dropper self-positioning, locating and stabilization system comprising:
a delivery platform centered over the lower center of the user's forehead;
two stabilizing forehead pillars attached to a back side of and perpendicular to the delivery platform which lie flush on the user's forehead during use;
at least one delivery well opening, wherein the axis of the delivery well depth is perpendicular to the two forehead pillars, the delivery wells facilitating insertion and retention of an eye drop dispensing apparatus positioned over the user's eye; and
a nasal bridge extending down from the bottom side of the delivery platform, wherein the nasal bridge is in a plane parallel to the plane of the delivery platform, the arc of the nasal bridge is comprising of a first contour for mating engagement with a first corresponding contour of the user's nasion and a second contour for mating engagement with a second corresponding contour of the user's nasion.
6. A method of applying eye drops using a locating and stabilization system comprising the steps of:
inserting an eye drop applicator into a delivery well in an eye dropper holding apparatus;
orienting the eye dropper holding apparatus with a bottom underside pointing toward a user's face;
aligning the bottom of the eye dropper holding apparatus against the user's face such that a nasal bridge slides against the center of the user's nose;
applying pressure to a spot on the upper surface of the delivery platform of the apparatus such that the apparatus remains pressed against the user's face;
sliding the eye dropper holding apparatus in a vertical manner along the user's nose such that the nasal bridge seats into the narrowest part of where the user's upper nose meets the user's forehead;
resting a series of at least two forehead pillars, which protrude downward from beneath the delivery platform on the apparatus, such that resting comprises pressing the forehead pillars against the user's forehead;
applying adequate pressure to the center section of the delivery platform of the device such that all axial motion in an up/down, side-to-side, and rocking toward and away from the eye is eliminated; and
squeezing the eye drop applicator such that eye drops are dispensed from the eye drop applicator.