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Eye & Vision Disorders
Question #18749
68 days ago
115

how did eye flu spread - #18749

Myra

I am really anxious about this whole eye flu situation! A few weeks ago, I noticed my eyes feeling super itchy and watery, which I thought was just allergies. But then, my friend told me there’s this thing called eye flu going around and I should be careful. I mean, how did eye flu spread in the first place? I’ve been avoiding crowded places, but I was at a birthday party where a few people had similar symptoms, and now I’m freaking out thinking if I caught it. I read that it can spread through direct contact, but like, does that mean just touching surfaces or what? And ok, I’m kind of a mess right now with my eyes red and swollen — should I be worried it could get worse? I don’t know if I should see a doctor or just ride it out, ya know? Honestly, how did eye flu spread between all these different groups of people? A friend’s kids had it too, and they were at my house last week. This whole thing is stressing me out! Any advice or experiences on how did eye flu spread and what I should do would seriously help!

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Doctors' responses

Eye flu, or viral conjunctivitis, primarily spreads through direct contact with infected secretions — this can be from person-to-person contact, or touching surfaces that have the virus on them, like doorknobs or light switches. In crowded places or gatherings like the birthday party you mentioned, it’s easier for the virus to transfer through handshakes, hugging, or even sharing towels and pillows that might have come into contact with an infected person’s eye discharge. When someone touches their eyes and then touches an object or another person, they can inadvertently pass along the infection. That’s likely how it spread among different groups of people you know. Cleaning hands thoroughly and avoiding touching your face can help reduce risk.

With your symptoms of redness, swelling, itchiness, and watery eyes, it does sound indicative of conjunctivitis, but it’s important to differentiate it from bacterial causes which might require antibiotic treatment. If you notice symptoms worsening, such as impaired vision, severe pain, or if there’s significant discharge, a visit to the doctor would be prudent. They can examine your symptoms, confirm the cause, and might provide you with supportive treatments or advice specific to your condition. Generally, viral conjunctivitis is self-limiting and resolves within a week or two, though applying cool compresses and using lubricating eye drops can soothe irritation. Those who wear contact lenses should switch to glasses, and makeup use should be paused to prevent further irritation or spreading. Ensuring good hygiene practices and staying away from public gatherings while symptomatic can also prevent further transmission to others.

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