Definitely the gel is the easiest. Put on your finger and wipe onto the inside of the bottom lid, then gently pull over the top lid and gently rub it to smear gel around.
I find for irritated eyes that washing with saline is very effective. Sometimes dust gets in their eyes. I have saline drops for my contact lenses, so I use that. If I need to do a good wash, I stir a teaspoon of salt into a liter of boiled water. Let cool. Then pour liberally into eyes so they are completely irrigated. Usually displaces the irritant and eyes get better very quickly.
Hope Stanley feels better soon. My husband enjoys updates about him. Loves his name!