Mom refuses to let me put in her eye drops for glaucoma. Has anyone had to deal with this?

If she thought you were the hired specialist eye nurse rather than the hired help, might that reassure her? I'm just wondering if you can get your hands on an official-looking tunic or something, adopt a brisk professional manner, and see if that approach helps. You could hang the "uniform" out of sight somewhere and only wear it when it's eye drop time.

I'm not suggesting you actually impersonate a registered nurse, mind; just be yourself, but with a different, more authoritative style.

Is there something that she really, really likes? Some special snack or chocolate? Sometimes, like dealing with a child, bribery works.

Have you asked her doctor for some antianxiety meds?

Not to compare, but when I needed to put antibiotic ointment in my dachshund's eyes, that was the only thing that helped.

What does her eye doctor say about the need for the drops? Has she been checked lately? I know that pressures can fluctuate and sometimes drops can be discontinued or frequency reduced. Mom eye doctor recommended a daily baby aspirin to ward off another stroke. Maybe you could ask the doctor about that, in case all else fails. Does she give you a reason for resisting? Do they sting? Maybe there’s an alternative. My Mom also had optic nerve stroke in her “good” eye which left her blind for the last year of her life. It exacerbated her confusion so much, I would try anything to avoid it. If she doesn’t recognize you already, would it be possible to tell her a fib like you’re her nurse or eye doctor and are there to give her the drops? Sometimes elderly people are more likely to accept a doctor treatments.

Thank you everyone for the suggestions, which I will try. I have been on this site for over a year (thank God I found it) and it has helped me tremendously with mother and keeping my sanity. Blessings to all....

My Moms Glaucoma wasn’t as bad but she did need drops daily. The Drs told me to try and if she refused try again later. If she didn’t let me that day just keep patiently trying. Please don’t stress yourself out over it like I did at first because it didn’t add quality or quantity to her life.

My Mom also has glaucoma and takes drops. It was so difficult getting the drops in that now I give them before she gets out of bed. The eye doc said to put in inside corner of eyes and once she blinks the drops go in. Her pressures have been good for over a year using this method. Maybe you can try. Good luck.

Wow, I almost forgot! Both Mom and DH had a procedure where the glaucoma doctor shoots tiny laser holes in the eye. It was done in the office and only took a few minutes and they said it was painless. It stabilized their glaucoma and they both were able to discontinue the drops! Ask her doctor about that. It’s a specialized procedure but probably getting more common.
Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty, or SLT

Simply, before she gets up, while she's still lying there, tell her to close
her eyes, drop it in the corner of her eyes without her knowing that you
have it in your hand. She will open her eyes in surprise, say O I'll get
you a tissue.

Yes my mother too has dementia, glaucoma & macular degeneration. At times, she says that her eyes are fine & she don’t need drops anymore. So I come back after giving Seroquel medicine & she is more cooperative. Other times, I only have to come back in 5 or 10 minutes. I just say, “head back, eyes open for your drops!” I put her hospital bed down flat & it works.