We can agree that the most important sense is our sense of sight. It would be challenging to manage our daily routine without seeing, which is why we have to take good care of our eyes.
We can observe balanced nourishment as part of our regular diet, with the consumption of nutritious foods rich in vitamins A and C, to keep our eyesight good. However, due to environmental factors and an unhealthy lifestyle, our eyes can get tired, itchy, and red, among other problems.
Myerlee Pharmacy is here to help you understand why this happens, what you can do to prevent it, and how it can be treated.
Red, itchy, and watery eyes can be caused by a lot of factors, such as allergies, irritation, or foreign particles. Pink eye, or conjunctivitis, in particular, is a common and contagious illness that exhibits these symptoms. Avoiding triggers, practicing good eye hygiene, and using antibiotic eyedrops or ophthalmic compounds can help manage and relieve symptoms.
What Causes Red, Itchy, and Watery Eyes?
Allergies (Allergic Conjunctivitis)
Pollen, dust, pet dander, or mold can trigger allergic reactions, leading to redness, itching, and tearing.
Dry Eyes
When your eyes don’t produce enough tears or the tears evaporate too quickly, irritation and redness can occur.
Eye Strain
Long hours on screens or reading without breaks can cause dryness and mild inflammation.
Infections (Conjunctivitis or “Pink Eye”)
Viral or bacterial infections can make the eyes red, watery, and sometimes sticky.
Contact Lens Irritation
Wearing lenses too long or not cleaning them properly can cause discomfort and redness.
Environmental Factors
Smoke, wind, chlorine, or pollution can irritate the eyes and trigger watery, itchy reactions.
Blepharitis (Eyelid Inflammation)
Buildup of oil or bacteria around the eyelids can lead to red, itchy eyes and crusting along the lashes.
Foreign Particles
Tiny debris, sand, or dust can scratch the eye’s surface, causing tearing and redness.
If symptoms persist, worsen, or are accompanied by pain or vision changes, see your eye doctor immediately!
How to Prevent Red, Itchy, and Watery Eyes
1. Avoid Triggers
Identify what causes your symptoms. Is it pollen, pet dander, dust, or smoke? Then limit exposure. Keep windows closed during high-pollen seasons and use air purifiers indoors.
2. Practice Good Eye Hygiene
Wash your hands often and avoid rubbing your eyes. Clean makeup brushes regularly, and replace eye makeup every few months.
3. Follow the 20-20-20 Rule
To reduce screen-related eye strain, every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds.
4. Use Artificial Tears or Lubricating Drops
Keep your eyes moisturized if you experience dryness. Consult your doctor for a prescription.
5. Protect Your Eyes
Wear sunglasses outdoors to block wind, dust, and UV rays. If you swim, use goggles to prevent chlorine irritation.
6. Care for Your Contact Lenses
Follow your eye doctor’s cleaning and replacement instructions carefully. Never sleep in lenses unless approved.
7. Keep Indoor Air Comfortable
Use a humidifier to prevent dry indoor air from irritating your eyes, especially during cooler months.
8. Schedule Regular Eye Exams
Routine checkups help detect and manage early signs of eye irritation, allergies, or dryness before they worsen.
What is Pink Eye?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), pink eye is one of the most common eye conditions, but it is also one of the most treatable. Also known as conjunctivitis, it is highly contagious in nature but rarely a serious condition, usually treated with antibiotic eye drops or ointments.
In the United States alone, six million people are affected by acute conjunctivitis annually. The American Optometric Association classifies conjunctivitis into three (3) main types:
1. Allergic conjunctivitis
Often occurs in people with seasonal allergies, and is caused by coming into contact with a substance that triggers an allergic reaction in the eyes.
2. Infectious conjunctivitis
Further classified into:
Bacterial conjunctivitis
Often caused by Staphylococcal or Streptococcal bacteria from your own skin or respiratory system, this type usually improves after three to four days of treatment, but patients need to take the entire course of antibiotics to prevent a recurrence.
Viral conjunctivitis
Caused by viruses caught when a person with an upper respiratory tract infection coughs or sneezes. No drops or ointments can treat viral conjunctivitis; treatment focuses on symptomatic relief with methods like cold compresses, artificial tears, and careful hygiene.
3. Chemical conjunctivitis
Caused by external irritants like pollution or chlorine in swimming pools.
How Can Ophthalmic Compounds Help?
If, after thorough medical evaluation and treatment, your eye problems are not relieved, you might want to try ophthalmic compounds. These can help you in many ways:
Customized Formulations
Not every patient responds well to commercially available eye drops. Compounding allows pharmacists to prepare custom eye medications—with specific concentrations, ingredients, and forms—to match your doctor’s prescription perfectly. This ensures that your eyes get the exact treatment they need.
Allergen- and Preservative-Free Options
Many store-bought eye drops contain preservatives, dyes, or additives that can irritate sensitive eyes. Ophthalmic compounding in Fort Myers makes it possible to create preservative-free or hypoallergenic eye drops, reducing irritation while providing relief.
Targeted Relief for Eye Conditions
Compounded eye medications can treat a wide range of eye issues, including:
- Dry Eye Syndrome
- Allergic Conjunctivitis
- Glaucoma
- Post-surgery inflammation
- Corneal injuries or infections
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Alternative Dosage Forms
Children, elderly patients, or those with certain conditions may have trouble using standard drops. Compounding pharmacies can prepare gels, ointments, or single-use sterile solutions for easier application and comfort.
To make sure that you get hold of the correct medicine, it is strongly advised to purchase your medicines from Myerlee Pharmacy. We are a respected leader in the pharmaceutical compounding industry and have served physicians and customers in Southwest Florida since 1991. We operate a pharmacy with a license from the State Board of Pharmacy.
Contact a Fort Myers Compounding Pharmacy
At Myerlee Pharmacy, we provide high-quality, cost-effective, customized compounded drug formulations of medications, which are not available from other pharmaceutical manufacturers. We create a wide range of unique compounded medications suitable for every customer after having received a prescription from your physician.
We care about you and your health! Myerlee Pharmacy offers sterile and non-sterile compounded medications for all your health needs and issues. Looking for an eye medication pharmacy or ophthalmic pharmacy in Fort Myers, Florida? Contact our Fort Myers office at (239) 482-3022 or online for your questions. Our courteous personnel await your call to extend our paramount service to your utmost satisfaction.
References
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- National Library of Medicine – National Center for Biotechnology Information
- American Optometric Association
