eye flu in both eyes - #16625
I am really worried because I've been dealing with what they call eye flu in both eyes for the past week. It's this weird irritation, you know? First, it started with some redness and a bit of tearing, but now it seems like the symptoms are getting worse. The doctor said it's conjunctivitis or something, but eye flu in both eyes sounds a lot worse, right? I mean, every time I blink, it's like I feel this gritty feeling, and my eyelids are super swollen. The discharge is kind of yellow, and that makes me think it’s probably contagious or at least not good. My kids had the same symptoms last month, but they seemed to get over it pretty quick. I just don’t understand why it’s lasting longer for me. Since I read about eye flu in both eyes being pretty common, I didn't think it could get this bad. Is there something specific I should be doing? Should I be worried about any long-term effects? I’m just feeling a bit lost, honestly. Any advice on home remedies or if I should see my doc again?
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Doctors’ responses
Conjunctivitis, often referred to as “eye flu,” is actually quite a common condition and can sometimes be a bit persistent, especially if bacterial. The symptoms you’re describing, like redness, tearing, grittiness, and yellow discharge, are consistent with conjunctivitis. It can indeed be caused by viruses, bacteria, or allergies, with viral and bacterial conjunctivitis being contagious, which explains why your kids might have had it too. Given that your symptoms are persisting for over a week with yellow discharge, it’s possible you might be dealing with a bacterial infection, which sometimes requires antibiotic eye drops or ointment for effective treatment.
Even though it’s bothersome, here are a few things you can try at home to help manage the symptoms: use warm compresses several times a day to soothe irritation and reduce swelling; make sure to wash your hands frequently to prevent spreading the infection, and avoid touching your eyes. Use over-the-counter artificial tears to help with dryness and discomfort, but steer clear of redness-reducing drops as they might worsen irritation. also, do not share towels, cosmetics, or anything that comes into contact with your eyes.
If after using these methods there’s no improvement, or if symptoms worsen, a follow-up appointment with your doctor may be warranted. Your doctor can check for any complications and possibly prescribe antibiotics if a bacterial infection is suspected. Long-term issues from conjunctivitis are uncommon, but a prolonged or severe infection does require medical oversight to prevent any rare complications. If there’s any vision changes or severe pain, those would be indications to seek immediate care. Your approach to seeking help and asking questions is right; it’s always better to address these situations early.
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