Medicine Dropper Types

There are assortments of different droppers available which can be used for various medical, scientific or household tasks. A medicine dropper is one of the primary measuring tools used to administer medications to different areas of the body. When preparing and dispensing medication to patients, it is important that the method and dosage used are correct, as the patient's health could depend on it.

Liquid Medication Dispensers

• Medicine droppers are commonly composed of a small pipette attached to a rubber squeeze bulb. Generally, these droppers are made of glass or plastic and labeled with calibrated units of measure. Suitable for various medicinal uses, they are capable of holding a range of different volumes with sizes that range from long to short, narrow to wide. Depending on the size of the opening, the angle being used or the pressure applied to the rubber bulb, medicine droppers may produce varying drop sizes for different liquids. To utilize a dropper, simply squeeze the bulb and place the dropper into the liquid. Then, release the bulb to draw the liquid into the dropper. Compress the bulb again to dispense the liquid.

Oral Medication Dropper

• Most doctors and other health care professionals will administer liquid medication to children with medicine droppers. Often, the directions for use of children's and adult medicines will give a prescribed amount by drops. Oral medication droppers can be sufficient in giving medicine to infants and children because children commonly have difficulty swallowing pills and the liquid can easily reach near the back of the patient's throat and tongue. Most are labeled with appropriate measurements to ensure the allotted quantity is taken. Usually, these droppers are made of durable plastic and are available in measurements of teaspoons (tsp) and cubic centimeters (cc).

Eye Medicine Dropper

• An ophthalmic dropper, or medicine dropper for the eyes, is used to give a liquefied solution to the eye. They are available straight-tipped or bent tipped. Naturally, droppers used for eye medication would be smaller in size and hold a smaller volume of fluid, compared to oral medicine droppers. Commonly, they already are attached to the eye medicine's bottle top for easy use. Eye medications are usually taken in drops, in which eye droppers can easily supply with a lot less mess in comparison to medicine cups, syringes and other medicine dispensers.

Ear Medicine Dropper

• Usually, an eye dropper and ear dropper can serve the same purpose. Often, ear droppers are needed to give ear medications that have warm temperatures to treat infections and provide other relief to the ears. Like the eye dropper, they are available with straight or bent tips.