01/17/2026
Flu symptoms like sneezing, coughing, and fever can negatively affect our eyes. Eyes can start to feel dry and tired, and it's not uncommon to catch an eye infection when we feel under the weather. Our eyes are more sensitive and we tend to touch our eyes and face more than we realize.
Here is what you need to know about how a cold affects our eyes and how to avoid these unpleasant conditions:
→ Pink Eye: One of the most common conditions we can catch when having a cold is conjunctivitis, which is known by some as “pink eye.” Rubbing our eyes after wiping our noses can spread the virus to our eyes. It’s important to contact your eye doctor to manage this contagious virus.
→ Burning and Itching: When we have a cold or the flu, our eyes can become dry which can cause burning/itchy symptoms. Rubbing our eyes will only make these symptoms worse and can cause infection. Your eye doctor can suggest which lubricating eye drops are best for you.
→ Light Sensitivity: When we are congested, our eyes can become sensitive to light. Reducing screen time and resting our eyes can help diminish our headaches and eye strain.
It’s important to stay home to rest and not spread infection to others while we are very sick. Once we are feeling better, we can see our eye doctor, who will give the right diagnosis and recommend medications to help relieve these and all eye issues.
