When a medication should be applied to both eyes, which abbreviation is used?

When a medication is to be applied to both eyes, the abbreviation used is "O.U." This stands for "oculus uterque," which means "both eyes" in Latin. This terminology is commonly used in prescriptions and medical documentation to indicate that a treatment is intended for application to both the left eye and the right eye.

Using this abbreviation helps to ensure clarity and prevent any misunderstandings in administering medications, especially when the instructions explicitly involve both eyes. Conversely, "O.D." refers to the right eye, "O.S." refers to the left eye, and "p.o." denotes that a medication is to be taken orally, which is not relevant to the application of eye medications. Understanding these abbreviations is important for safe and effective medication administration.