Eye flu cases are more apparent during the monsoon season, also called viral conjunctivitis. Attend any ophthalmology clinic during this moment and you will hear the same complaints of red itchy and watery sight. Eye care professionals believe there is a spike of 30 to 40 % of Conjunctivitis cases in urban regions from June to September. This number is high given the amount of people who tend to ignore the early signs of conjunctivitis in homes, schools, and public areas.
Why This Sudden Surge?
The spike isn’t random. Monsoon creates the perfect storm of conditions:
High Humidity: Like most viruses, they survive longer on surfaces and in hot, moist weather.
High Populated Indoor Areas: The increased amount of rainfall forces people into schools, offices, and public transportation resulting in close proximity to one another boosting the likelihood of passing an infection.
Contaminated Water: Dirty Road splashes, Waterlogging, and pools after a long period of no rain increases the eye’s exposure to infective agents.
Weakened Immunity: Weather changes weaken immunty and cause resistance to temporary viruses in the body.
It usually starts with redness in one or both eyes, followed by relentless itching or burning that does not go away quickly. Watery discharge, or sometimes a sticky liquid that causes the eyelids to be stuck together, particularly after waking up, is common in many people. Redness of the eyelids and heightened susceptibility to light or even moderate blurred vision are also symptoms. In case both eyes are involved within two to three days, it’s most likely due to a viral infection and not an allergy or irritation. What makes eye flu most annoying is that it is so easily spread — even just routine actions such as sharing towels, sharing the same pillow, or coming into contact with shared surfaces can pass the infection from one individual to another.
Both eyes becoming infected within 2–3 days is most likely viral. And since it is so contagious, even routine actions like sharing towels or sharing the same pillow can transfer it to others.
How Long Does It Last?
Viral conjunctivitis will typically last 7–10 days. Even if it does clear up on its own, secondary bacterial infection cannot be ruled out without hygiene. Ignoring the symptoms and going about one’s daily activities—going to work, school, or the gym—only risks exposure of others.
What You Can Do — At Home, Work, and Outside
At the workplace, have hand sanitisers and disposable tissues readily available to follow hand hygiene during the day. In case you get infected, it would be best to work at home or remain on sick leave for three to four days to prevent transmission of infection to others. Steer clear of shared office equipment such as printers, coffee machines, and keyboards; wash hands before and after using them.
At public places, sunglasses protect your eyes as well as act as a reminder not to touch them unnecessarily. Disposable tissues need to be used rather than washable handkerchiefs to get hygienic and steer clear of crowded swimming pools and dirty public lavatories at this time. Schools and workplaces must also provide advisory notices at monsoon peak times, requesting the symptomatic people to take precautionary measures needed to prevent infection transmission.
Eye flu may look insignificant, but if left untreated, can spread across offices, schools, and homes in a matter of moments. With basic personal hygiene, prompt care, and a little community sense, all of us can contribute to keeping our eyes safe and healthy during rains.
Dr. Ankit Deokar, Cornea Consultant, Chief Medical Officer at Sankara Eye Hospital Indore
