Overview

Where possible please try to preserve medication so that patients receive what they are used to taking. If you do have to supply an alternate brand (due to supply issues) please contact to let them know and explain the changes, showing them where possible (especially if the tablets have changed colour, shape, size or number)

Try to dispense tablets in the manufacturers supplied packaging rather than generic white boxes which make differentiation more difficult when they can only rely on the dispensing label.

Where a patient has multiple medications ask them how they differentiate between them – it is always better to stick with or build on a patients’ existing system than reinvent the wheel.

1. Medication boxes

Ask people if they would like tactile markers adding to medication boxes – this might be helpful where people have little or no remaining sight.

You can do this using stick-on 5mm raised bumpons (https://shop.rnib.org.uk/large-round-clear-dome-head-bumpons-2648) – make sure you agree on a code to use.

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You can also use a heavy permanent marker or add a coloured label to help

1. Medication bottles – tablets

Again, try to dispense tablets in the manufacturers supplied packaging rather than generic tablet bottles which make differentiation more difficult when people can only rely on the dispensing label.

If they have two or more sets of tablets in bottles you can add elastic bands, to make sure these don’t come off please add a small strip of sticky tape.

Where possible please retain manufacturers original packaging for people with sight impairments. Although only 3% of people with sight impairments read braille, some may be able to work out the initial letter or there are other indicators such as size, shape and feel of the packaging that help distinguish between medications

1. Eyedrops

If they have two or more sets of eyedrops in bottles you can add loom bands which are mini-elastic bands, to make sure these don’t come off please add a small strip of sticky tape.

If people have a different regime of drops for each eye you can add a large ‘R’ or ‘L’ to help them distinguish between them.

Please ensure they do not keep eyedrops anywhere they would be confused with superglue or nail glue which can come in very similar packaging.

Where possible please retain manufacturers original packaging for people with sight impairments. Although only 3% of people with sight impairments read braille, some may be able to work out the initial letter or there are other indicators such as size, shape and feel of the packaging that help distinguish between medications

Many people with sight impairments have a number of other health conditions which also require medication. Ask your patient how they differentiate between them – it is better to stick with or build on a patients’ existing system than reinventing the wheel. Where possible try to preserve specific medication brands so that patients receive what they are used to taking. If you do have to supply an alternate brand (due to supply issues) please contact to let them know and explain the changes, showing them where possible (especially if the tablets have changed colour, shape, size or number)

Medication boxes – for tablets

Try to dispense tablets in the manufacturers supplied packaging rather than generic (split box) white boxes which make differentiation more difficult when they can only rely on the dispensing label. Ask if adding tactile markers to medication boxes would help – this might be helpful where people have little or no remaining sight. You can do this using stick-on 5mm raised bumpons – make sure you agree on a code of how to use these.

Another labelling method is the Tacti-Mark pen which produces a liquid that hardens so you can draw letters or shapes. Available from RNIB in black and orange. Note this takes a few hours to dry and isn’t fully hardened until after 24 hours.

Where patients have some sight, you could also use a heavy permanent marker or use a coloured label or highlighter pen so medication is able to be differentiated. Without the need for any specialist products, you could also tear part of the packaging (a strategy patients often use themselves) or use a hole punch to punch out equivalent times to be taken per day.

Try to dispense tablets in the manufacturers supplied packaging rather than generic tablet bottles which make differentiation more difficult when people can only rely on the dispensing label. If they have two or more sets of tablets in bottles you can add elastic bands, to make sure these don’t come off please add a small strip of sticky tape. Where possible please retain manufacturers original packaging for people with sight impairments. Although only 3% of people with sight impairments can read braille, some may be able to work out the initial letter or there are other indicators such as size, shape and feel of the packaging that help distinguish between medications.

If they have two or more sets of eye drops in bottles you can add loom bands (mini-elastic bands), secured with a strip of sticky tape. If people have a different regime of drops for each eye you can add a large ‘R’ or ‘L’ to help them distinguish between them. Please retain manufacturers original packaging for people with sight impairments. Although only 3% of people with sight impairments read braille, some may be able to work out the initial letter or there are other indicators such as size, shape and feel of the packaging that help distinguish between medications. Know your drops campaign How to use your eye drops - Moorfields Eye Hospital

Please advise patients not to keep eye drops anywhere they could be confused with superglue or nail glue which can come in very similar packaging. Tactile markers could help avoid serious injuries.