is eye flu spread by seeing - #20176
I am really confused about eye flu or conjunctivitis, and I need some help. A few days ago, my friend was over, and he's had this redness and itching in his eyes, like it was all swollen and oozing some stuff. I didn’t think much of it at first, but now I'm wondering if I caught it from just being around him. Is eye flu spread by seeing? That seems weird but possible? I’m freaking out a little because now I feel some itchiness in my own eyes. Ugh. I didn't actually touch his face or anything but we were pretty close. He didn’t even know he had it at the time! Like is eye flu spread by seeing someone else? I thought it needed to be through touch, like if I touched something he did? I’m trying to remember if we shared drinks or anything, but I’m not sure. It's just so annoying to think about having to deal with this stuff. Can anyone shed some light on this? Is eye flu spread by seeing or is it more about contact? I just don't want to pass this on if I do have it. Thanks ahead.
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Doctors' responses
Eye flu, or conjunctivitis, isn’t spread just by seeing someone with the condition. That’s a common misconception! Usually, conjunctivitis is spread through direct or indirect contact. If your friend had viral or bacterial conjunctivitis, the infection could spread easily by touching items they used, like towels, washcloths, or eyeglasses, then touching your eyes. Viral conjunctivitis, which can be caused by things like adenoviruses, spreads quickly especially in close contact settings. If you’re starting to feel itchiness, it’s wise to be cautious. Avoid touching or rubbing your eyes and wash your hands frequently to minimize the risk. If you’ve developed symptoms, try using artificial tears to soothe mild irritation and, importantly, refrain from sharing personal items. Clear up any suspicion about drinks: though possible, it’s less common to spread infection that way. If congestion or eye discharge becomes significant or symptoms worsen, like with yellow-green eye discharge or vision change, seeing a healthcare provider for an accurate diagnosis and appropriate management is key. They can determine whether an antibiotic is necessary, usually for bacterial causes. While self-care measures might help, assessing severity and ruling out other conditions is important to prevent complications or spreading it further. If conjunctivitis is suspected, staying home if you develop symptoms is a considerate step to prevent infecting others.
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