Eye flu symptoms usually include redness, watering, grittiness and discharge. Eye flu is commonly used for viral conjunctivitis, an infection that spreads through contact. Knowing these signs can help you recognise the problem early and take sensible steps to reduce its spread.

What Are the Common Eye Flu Symptoms?

Viral conjunctivitis, commonly called eye flu, affects the surface of the eye. The typical eye flu symptoms are easy to notice, but they should not be used alone to confirm the cause.

Common viral conjunctivitis symptoms include:

• Redness of the eye
• Watering
• A gritty feeling
• Discharge
  
  

Eye flu spreads through contact. Good hand hygiene and avoiding shared towels help limit its spread.

If someone in your household has eye flu, avoid touching your eyes after contact with them. Wash your hands regularly and do not share towels.

How Eye Flu Symptoms May Differ From Other Eye Problems

Not every red or watery eye is caused by viral conjunctivitis. Other eye problems can produce different symptoms and require different care.

For example, a stye is an infection of an eyelid gland that causes a painful lump. A painless, persistent lump is more likely to be a chalazion.

This is why an eye examination is useful if you are unsure about your symptoms.

Eye Flu Symptoms and How Viral Conjunctivitis Spreads

One of the important features of eye flu is how easily it spreads through contact.

Viral conjunctivitis can spread when infected material comes into contact with another person’s hands or surfaces. Hand hygiene and not sharing towels limit the spread.

If you have eye flu symptoms, take simple precautions around family members and others.

Steps to limit spread

• Wash your hands regularly.
• Avoid sharing towels.
• Avoid unnecessary contact with your eyes.
• Maintain good hand hygiene after touching your face.
  
  

These steps are particularly useful when redness, watering, grittiness and discharge are present.

The World Health Organization’s eye care information provides broader information about vision and eye health. The American Academy of Ophthalmology also provides information about eye conditions and eye care.

What Is the Right Eye Flu Treatment?

The right eye flu treatment starts with identifying the cause. Viral conjunctivitis does not respond to antibiotic drops because antibiotics do not treat viral conjunctivitis.

You should also avoid self-medication with steroid eye drops. Steroid drops can be harmful and should never be started without examination.

This is important because a red eye does not automatically mean you have viral conjunctivitis. An eye specialist can assess your symptoms and determine the appropriate care.

Should you use antibiotic drops?

No. Antibiotic drops do not treat viral conjunctivitis.

Do not start steroid drops on your own either. They can be harmful when used without an examination.

If your symptoms are not clear or are getting worse, arrange an eye examination instead of choosing eye drops yourself.

When Should Eye Flu Symptoms Be Checked?

Most cases of eye redness and watering should be assessed based on the full set of symptoms. Some changes require more urgent attention.

Pain with redness and reduced vision is always a reason for same-day assessment. Most sudden changes in vision need examination rather than home management.

You should seek urgent examination if you develop:

• Pain with redness and reduced vision
• Sudden painless loss of vision in one eye
• New floaters with flashes of light
• A curtain across your vision
• Double vision of sudden onset
  
  

Sudden painless loss of vision in one eye is an emergency. It can indicate retinal detachment, retinal vascular occlusion or optic nerve disease.

New floaters with flashes, a curtain across vision or sudden double vision also need urgent examination rather than waiting.

These symptoms do not confirm a particular condition. They are reasons to seek prompt professional assessment.

Eye Flu or Another Common Eye Problem?

Understanding the difference between common symptoms can help you decide when an examination is needed.

Eye flu

Typical eye flu symptoms are redness, watering, grittiness and discharge. Viral conjunctivitis spreads through contact, so hand hygiene and not sharing towels help limit its spread.

Stye

A stye is an infection of an eyelid gland that causes a painful lump. Warm compresses and lid hygiene are the usual first measures.

A painless, persistent lump is more likely to be a chalazion. An examination can help assess an eyelid lump that does not settle.

Blurred vision

Blurred vision has many causes, including refractive error, dry eye, cataract, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma and corneal disease. The pattern and speed of onset guide the diagnosis.

If you are unsure whether blurred vision is related to your spectacle power, read about signs you need glasses.

What Does an Eye Examination Involve?

A comprehensive eye examination assesses more than spectacle power. It includes visual acuity, refraction, examination of the front of the eye, intraocular pressure and, where indicated, a dilated retinal examination.

An optometrist assesses vision and helps with glasses or contact lenses. An ophthalmologist is a medical doctor who diagnoses and treats eye diseases.

An examination is particularly important if symptoms are unusual, persistent or associated with reduced vision.

For people with sudden changes in vision, examination is preferred over home management. Pain with redness and reduced vision always requires same-day assessment.

Eye Care at Thind Eye Hospital

Thind Eye Hospital is a multi superspeciality eye hospital with branches in Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Hoshiarpur and Pathankot.

The hospital was founded in 1991 by Dr. Jaswant Singh Thind, Chairman cum Managing Director, after he completed his MS from King George’s Medical College, Lucknow, in 1986.

The hospital brings more than 39 years of expertise in eye care. It sees more than 1,00,000 patients every year and has performed more than 4,00,000 surgeries to date.

For cornea-related concerns, Dr. Saurabh Mittal, Cornea, Squint and Paediatric Ophthalmologist, is available for consultation in Jalandhar daily, Hoshiarpur on Tuesday and also at Pathankot. You can learn more about Dr. Saurabh Mittal.

The hospital also conducts community eye care camps for rural populations and school eye health checkup programmes for children.

What Should You Do If You Have Eye Flu Symptoms?

If you have eye flu symptoms such as redness, watering, grittiness and discharge, maintain good hand hygiene and avoid sharing towels.

Do not use antibiotic drops for viral conjunctivitis, and never start steroid drops without an examination. If you have pain with redness and reduced vision, seek same-day assessment.

For sudden painless loss of vision in one eye, new floaters with flashes, a curtain across vision or sudden double vision, seek urgent examination.

If you want your symptoms assessed, you can book an appointment with Thind Eye Hospital.

Understanding eye flu symptoms can help you recognise viral conjunctivitis early, reduce its spread and know when professional assessment is needed.

This article provides general information about eye health and eye care services. It is not medical advice and does not replace a consultation with a qualified ophthalmologist. Symptoms vary between individuals. Please consult a licensed eye specialist before acting on any information here.

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