During a partial bath, what is the recommended order for washing the eyes?

• A. Start with the opposite eye and wash eyes from the inner to outer corner without soap, using a different part of the washcloth for each eye.
• B. Wash the same eye first, using the same portion of the washcloth for both eyes.
• C. Wash both eyes at once using soap on the cloth.
• D. Begin with the eye closest to you and wash outward.

Answer: (A)

During eye care in a partial bath, the key is to prevent irritation and cross-contamination by using clean cloth sections and wiping in a direction that moves debris away from the tear ducts. Start with the eye farthest from you, then wash from the inner corner toward the outer corner, using a fresh portion of the washcloth for each eye. Do not use soap around the eyes, as soap can irritate mucous membranes and cause discomfort. This approach minimizes the risk of transferring germs between eyes and avoids leaving soap in the eyes. Washing the same cloth portion on both eyes, washing both eyes at once with soap, or starting with the eye closest to you would increase contamination risk or cause irritation.