Online Pink Eye Treatment in Florida for Adults
Fast MD-only pink eye care by secure online video visit for adults in Florida, $49 flat-fee, no insurance required.
Pink eye (conjunctivitis) causes eye redness, irritation, and discharge and may be viral, bacterial, or allergic. Many cases can be safely evaluated through telehealth when vision is intact and no severe pain or trauma is present. Our board-certified MDs use guideline-based criteria to distinguish viral, bacterial, and allergic conjunctivitis by video, prescribe evidence-based eye drops when appropriate, and flag warning signs that require urgent in-person eye care.
- Board-certified MD every visit (no mid-levels)
- $49 flat-fee video visit, adults in Florida
- No insurance required; HSA/FSA friendly
- Available in 25+ states, including Florida
- Guideline-based viral vs bacterial vs allergic evaluation
What Is Pink Eye (Conjunctivitis)?
Conjunctivitis is inflammation of the conjunctiva, the thin clear tissue that lines the inside of the eyelids and covers the white of the eye. It often leads to redness, irritation, tearing, and discharge. Common causes include viral infections, bacterial infections, allergic reactions, and irritants such as smoke or chemicals.
Viral conjunctivitis often accompanies a cold and causes watery discharge and gritty discomfort. Bacterial conjunctivitis tends to produce thicker discharge and eyelid crusting. Allergic conjunctivitis is typically very itchy, affects both eyes, and is associated with other allergy symptoms. TeleDirectMD focuses on adults with mild to moderate symptoms and no vision-threatening red flags, helping adults in Florida determine whether simple home care, prescription drops, or in-person eye evaluation is most appropriate.
Symptoms and Red Flags for Adult Pink Eye
The table below summarizes common pink eye symptoms, what they may indicate, and when they can be managed through telehealth versus when urgent in-person or emergency eye care is needed.
| Symptom | What it suggests | Telehealth appropriate? | Red flag requiring urgent in-person or ER care |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diffuse eye redness | Common in viral, bacterial, and allergic conjunctivitis | Yes, if mild to moderate and vision is normal | Marked redness with severe pain, light sensitivity, or decreased vision suggesting keratitis or uveitis |
| Watery discharge and gritty sensation | Typical of viral or irritant conjunctivitis | Yes, often appropriate for telehealth | Associated with significant pain, trauma, or contact lens overuse |
| Thick yellow or green discharge | More consistent with bacterial conjunctivitis | Yes, if no severe pain or visual changes | Purulent discharge with severe swelling, fever, or eye pain suggesting more serious infection |
| Intense itching, often both eyes | Typical of allergic conjunctivitis | Yes, telehealth can guide allergy drops and avoidance strategies | Associated with eyelid swelling that threatens eye closure or breathing |
| Crusting of eyelids on waking | Common with bacterial or mixed conjunctivitis | Yes, if eye can open and vision is clear after cleaning | Inability to open the eye, severe swelling, or intense pain |
| Eye pain or foreign body sensation | Mild irritation is common in conjunctivitis | Telehealth may be appropriate for mild pain | Severe pain, history of trauma, or contact lens use with pain suggesting corneal abrasion or ulcer |
| Blurred or decreased vision | May indicate corneal involvement or more serious eye disease | No. Needs in-person eye exam | Sudden vision loss, halos around lights, or significant visual change |
| Severe light sensitivity (photophobia) | Possible corneal inflammation or uveitis | No. Not appropriate for telehealth alone | Marked photophobia with pain and decreased vision requiring urgent eye care |
Conditions That Can Mimic Pink Eye
Several eye conditions can look like conjunctivitis but require different management. During your video visit, the MD will ask targeted questions to distinguish among:
- Dry eye syndrome: Burning, gritty sensation, and intermittent blurring that improves with blinking or tears.
- Blepharitis: Inflammation of the eyelid margins with crusting and irritation.
- Corneal abrasion or ulcer: Significant pain, foreign body sensation, and light sensitivity, often after trauma or contact lens use.
- Uveitis: Deep eye pain, light sensitivity, and vision changes requiring urgent ophthalmologic care.
- Acute angle-closure glaucoma: Severe eye pain, headache, halos around lights, nausea, and vision loss; an emergency.
- Preseptal or orbital cellulitis: Red, swollen eyelids with pain, fever, or eye movement pain.
If your symptoms or history raise concern for a vision-threatening condition, TeleDirectMD will not manage you solely by telehealth. Instead, we will direct you to urgent in-person eye care in Florida and explain what to tell the ER, urgent care, or eye specialist.
When a Florida Video Visit Is Appropriate for Pink Eye Symptoms
Many adults with mild to moderate pink eye symptoms can be safely evaluated and treated through a TeleDirectMD video visit. The checklists below outline when telehealth is a good fit and when you should go directly to in-person or emergency eye care.
Video Visit Is Usually Appropriate When
- You are an adult located in Florida (age 18 or older).
- You have eye redness, mild discomfort, and discharge but vision is essentially normal.
- You do not have severe eye pain or significant light sensitivity.
- You have no history of recent eye trauma or chemical exposure.
- You are not a contact lens wearer with severe pain or vision changes.
- You can clearly show your eyes on camera for remote assessment.
- You can access a local pharmacy in Florida for eye drop prescriptions.
Red Flags Requiring In-Person or ER Eye Care
- Sudden vision loss, significant blurring, or halos around lights.
- Severe eye pain, especially with light sensitivity.
- Recent eye trauma, foreign body, or chemical splash.
- Contact lens use with severe pain, photophobia, or decreased vision.
- Bulging eye, painful eye movements, or severe eyelid swelling with fever.
- Recurrent or worsening symptoms despite prior treatment.
- Systemic illness, immunocompromise, or known autoimmune eye disease with new symptoms.
How TeleDirectMD Treats Pink Eye in Florida
During your $49 MD-only video visit, the physician will determine whether your conjunctivitis is most likely viral, bacterial, allergic, or irritant. We emphasize careful triage to rule out serious eye disease and prescribe medications only when they are likely to help.
Supportive Care for Viral and Mild Cases
- Cool compresses to the closed eyelids for comfort.
- Frequent handwashing and avoiding eye rubbing to reduce spread.
- Lubricating artificial tears to relieve irritation.
- Short-term time away from contact lens use until symptoms fully resolve.
When We Use Antibiotic Eye Drops
Bacterial conjunctivitis is more likely with thick purulent discharge, eyelid crusting, and minimal systemic symptoms. In appropriate adults, your TeleDirectMD physician may prescribe topical antibiotic drops or ointment to speed recovery and reduce contagion. We do not routinely prescribe antibiotics for clearly viral or allergic conjunctivitis.
Allergy-Focused Treatment
For allergic conjunctivitis, we focus on allergen avoidance, lubricating drops, and antihistamine or antihistamine-mast cell stabilizer eye drops. These help reduce itching, redness, and tearing and can be combined with oral allergy medications when appropriate.
Common Medications for Adult Pink Eye
| Medication | Dose (adults) | Duration | When we may use it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trimethoprim-polymyxin B ophthalmic drops | 1 to 2 drops in affected eye QID | 5 to 7 days | Common first-line antibiotic drop for uncomplicated bacterial conjunctivitis |
| Erythromycin ophthalmic ointment | Apply to lower eyelid QID | 5 to 7 days | Alternative topical antibiotic, can be helpful at bedtime for lubrication and coverage |
| Fluoroquinolone ophthalmic drops | Per product label | Variable | Reserved for specific higher-risk scenarios (for example, some contact lens–related infections) when indicated |
| Antihistamine-mast cell stabilizer drops | 1 drop in affected eye BID | Variable during allergy season | Allergic conjunctivitis with prominent itching and redness |
| Lubricating artificial tears | 1 to 2 drops in affected eye up to QID | As needed | Symptomatic relief for viral, allergic, or irritant conjunctivitis and dry eye overlap |
Final medication choice, dose, and duration are individualized based on your symptoms, visual status, contact lens use, other health conditions, and current guidelines at the time of your visit. TeleDirectMD does not prescribe controlled substances and does not manage vision-threatening eye emergencies by telehealth alone.
Home Care, Contagion, and Return-to-Work Guidance
Many cases of pink eye improve within several days to 1 to 2 weeks, depending on cause. Your MD will review specific home-care steps and expected recovery time during your Florida telehealth visit.
Home Care Tips
- Wash hands frequently and avoid touching or rubbing your eyes.
- Use separate towels, pillowcases, and cosmetics to reduce spread.
- Discard or replace eye makeup used around the time symptoms started.
- Stop contact lens wear until cleared to resume; disinfect or replace lenses and cases.
- Use prescribed drops exactly as directed and complete the course if antibiotics are given.
Contagion and Work Considerations
Viral and bacterial pink eye can be contagious, particularly while there is active discharge. Many adults can continue working if good hand hygiene is maintained and close face-to-face contact is limited, but some workplaces may prefer a brief period at home. If needed, TeleDirectMD can usually provide a short note confirming evaluation. We do not complete FMLA, disability, or long-term workplace accommodation forms.
About TeleDirectMD’s Online Pink Eye Care in Florida
TeleDirectMD is a physician-led virtual urgent care service providing MD-only video visits for adults in Florida and 25+ other states. Each visit is a $49 flat-fee with no insurance required. We focus on conditions that can be safely managed through telehealth, use guideline-based evaluation to distinguish viral, bacterial, and allergic conjunctivitis, and prescribe eye drops only when clinically appropriate. Visits are conducted by secure video, and most prescriptions are sent electronically to your preferred pharmacy within minutes of the visit when indicated. TeleDirectMD is not a replacement for the emergency department; if you have red-flag symptoms or feel severely ill, call 911 or seek in-person care immediately.
Florida Pink Eye Telehealth: Frequently Asked Questions
Can TeleDirectMD treat pink eye in Florida by video visit?
Yes. TeleDirectMD provides MD-only online video visits for adults located in Florida who have eye redness, irritation, and discharge but no severe pain, trauma, or vision loss. During the visit, the physician assesses for viral, bacterial, and allergic conjunctivitis and determines whether eye drops or home care alone are most appropriate.
How do you tell viral, bacterial, and allergic pink eye apart?
Viral conjunctivitis usually causes watery discharge and gritty discomfort, often with cold symptoms. Bacterial conjunctivitis tends to produce thicker yellow or green discharge and crusting. Allergic conjunctivitis is typically very itchy, often affects both eyes, and is associated with other allergy symptoms. Your MD will review your history and symptoms and examine your eyes by video to make the best determination possible.
When is pink eye serious enough for urgent in-person or ER care?
You should seek urgent in-person or emergency eye care if you have sudden vision loss, marked blurring, severe eye pain, halos around lights, severe light sensitivity, trauma or chemical splash to the eye, or significant eyelid swelling with fever or pain on eye movement. These may indicate serious eye disease that cannot be managed safely by telehealth alone.
Can you prescribe antibiotic eye drops during the Florida video visit?
Yes. If your TeleDirectMD physician believes you have uncomplicated bacterial conjunctivitis and no concerning features, they can prescribe topical antibiotic eye drops or ointment and send the prescription electronically to a Florida pharmacy of your choice. We do not routinely prescribe antibiotics for clearly viral or allergic conjunctivitis.
Do all cases of pink eye need antibiotic drops?
No. Many cases of pink eye are viral or allergic and do not benefit from antibiotics. Overuse of antibiotic drops can contribute to resistance and unnecessary side effects. TeleDirectMD follows guideline-based criteria and reserves antibiotics for cases where bacterial infection is likely and benefits outweigh risks.
Is it safe to manage pink eye through telehealth if I wear contact lenses?
Telehealth can help triage contact lens wearers with mild redness and irritation, but severe pain, photophobia, or vision changes in a lens wearer raise concern for corneal ulcer or other serious problems and require in-person eye care. If you wear contacts, your MD may advise stopping use temporarily and will decide whether telehealth management is sufficient or in-person evaluation is needed.
How long is pink eye contagious?
Viral and bacterial conjunctivitis can be contagious while there is active discharge and eye rubbing is frequent. Many people are most contagious in the first several days of symptoms. Good hand hygiene, avoiding sharing towels or cosmetics, and not touching your eyes help reduce spread. Your MD will review specific precautions for your situation.
Can you write a work note if I need time off due to pink eye?
Yes. If pink eye symptoms make it difficult to work safely or your employer prefers you stay home briefly to reduce contagion, TeleDirectMD can usually provide a short note confirming evaluation. We do not complete FMLA, disability, or long-term workplace accommodation forms.
How quickly can I be seen and get eye drops in Florida?
Same-day and often near-immediate video visits are usually available. Most pink eye visits take about 10 to 15 minutes. When medications are appropriate, prescriptions are typically sent electronically to your chosen Florida pharmacy within minutes after the visit is completed.
How much does an online pink eye visit cost with TeleDirectMD?
Each adult pink eye visit with TeleDirectMD is a $49 flat-fee MD-only video visit. We do not bill insurance, but you may be able to use HSA or FSA funds when permitted. Medication costs are separate and depend on the pharmacy and any coverage you may have.
What can I do to help prevent pink eye in the future?
Prevention strategies include good hand hygiene, avoiding touching or rubbing your eyes, not sharing towels or cosmetics, changing pillowcases regularly, and following contact lens hygiene instructions closely. For allergic conjunctivitis, allergen avoidance and preventive allergy medications can reduce flares. Your TeleDirectMD physician can review personalized prevention tips based on your situation in Florida.