By Domenic Chindamo - Pharmacist, Lygon Everyday Chemist, Brunswick East

If your eyes feel dry, gritty, itchy or irritated, you’re not alone. Many people reach straight for eye drops - but what most don’t realise is that how you prepare your eyes before using drops can make a big difference to how well they work.

Eye drops are helpful for dry eyes, allergies and infections, but if the eyelids and oil glands aren’t clean and working properly, drops may not absorb well or may only give short-term relief.

Why Cleaning Your Eyes Matters

Along the eyelids sit tiny oil glands that help keep your tears stable. Over time, these glands can become blocked by oils, skin cells, makeup residue, bacteria, or microscopic mites that live around eyelashes.

When this happens, symptoms can include gritty or burning eyes, watery eyes, red or itchy lids, and recurrent styes. Regular eyelid cleansing helps remove this build-up and restore normal tear function.

The Simple Step Most People Skip: Gentle Lid Massage

After cleaning the eyelids, gentle massage using a sterile cleansing swab for around 30 seconds per eye can help unblock oil glands, improve tear quality, reduce inflammation and help eye drops work more effectively.

Dry Eyes: More Than Just Not Enough Tears

Dry eye can be caused by screen use, air conditioning, ageing, hormonal changes, medications, and eyelid inflammation. Managing dry eye often involves preservative-free drops during the day, gels or ointments at night, lid hygiene, and nutritional support.

Foods and Nutrition for Eye Health

Foods that support eye health include oily fish, leafy green vegetables, eggs, nuts and seeds, and good hydration. Limiting excess alcohol, highly processed foods and dehydration can also help.

How Your Pharmacist Can Help

Your pharmacist can help identify what’s contributing to your symptoms, recommend suitable treatments, show you how to clean and massage your eyelids properly, and let you know when further review is needed.

Small daily habits can make a big difference to eye comfort.