title: Mirror-hat device as a drop delivery aid: a pilot study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effectiveness of a novel mirror-hat drop delivery aid.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective, observational study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty eyes from 30 subjects with primary open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension attending the glaucoma unit at the Toronto Western Hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  The mirror-hat device consists of a magnifying mirror attached to a brimmed cap. The aid was provided to subjects who self-administered topical antiglaucoma medications. Drop instillation technique (time taken to instill a drop, number of drops dispensed, drop contact location, and contamination of bottle tip) was evaluated with and without the device. Subjects also completed a survey regarding drop administration and satisfaction with the device.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Subjects were less likely to contaminate the bottle tip by touching their eye/eyelid when using the device than without the device (13% vs 37%, respectively, p = 0.02). Twenty-six subjects (86.7%) indicated they could see the drop using the device versus 12 (40%) who reported they saw the drop without the device (p = 0.0005). There were no statistically significant differences in any of the other outcomes. No predictive factors were associated with improved drop administration technique while using the device including uncorrected near-visual acuity, lens status, and glaucoma severity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Use of the mirror-hat aid is associated with significantly less bottle-tip contamination and better visualization of the drop than without the device; however, the device did not help to reduce time, number of drops, or accuracy when administering eye drops.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto.
authors.forename: M Hermina
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Strungaru
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa.
authors.forename: Jonathan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Peck
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Arts and Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ont.
authors.forename: Emma C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Compeau
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto.
authors.forename: Graham E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Trope
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto. Electronic address: ybuys@utoronto.ca.
authors.forename: Yvonne M
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Buys
mesh_terms: D060433:Administration, Ophthalmic; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems / Q000295:instrumentation*; D004349:Drug Packaging; D005260:Female; D005902:Glaucoma, Open-Angle / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007429:Intraocular Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009798:Ocular Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012029:Refraction, Ocular; D012646:Self Administration; D014792:Visual Acuity
chemical_list: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions