Can Flu Affect Eyesight?

The question- can flu affect eyesight? - is as a result of researchers' concern on whether the drugs used to cure or prevent influenza have an effect on the visual system of the patient.

Flu is a viral infection that affects the throat, nose, bronchi and sometimes the lungs. Common symptoms include headaches, muscle aches, severe malaise, rhinitis and sore throat.

But sometimes the patient may experience watery eyes and an irritation which may lead to poor eyesight during the period that one is suffering from the flu. Apart from that, the irritation can lead to the patient scratching their eyes thus exposing them to infections. Flu can also lead to reddening of the patient's eyes especially in cases of severe influenza. It can also affect eyesight indirectly when it leads to lack of adequate sleep thus the patient experiences blurred vision although it can be corrected by having adequate rest.

But medical experts have not yet discovered whether medications taken to cure flu directly affect a patient's eyesight. Nevertheless, patients who have weak immune systems for instance those suffering from HIV and have a regular intake of antiviral drugs to treat the recurring flu can experience slight vision changes in the long run.

A stye in the eye can occur more frequently when suffering with the flu.

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