Our fingers touch an eye around 20 times a day. We rub our lids, wipe our eyelashes or brush away fluff. Most of the time we don’t even notice it. It is precisely these casual contacts that are now proving to be treacherous. Because the eye flu is transmitted through hand-eye contact. In the past few months, it has spread rapidly, especially in North Rhine-Westphalia, Baden-Württemberg and Lower Saxony, and there is still no end in sight to the wave of infection.
What exactly is behind the so-called eye flu?
The inflammation of the conjunctiva and cornea of the eyes is triggered by viruses belonging to the group of adenoviruses. dr Toam Katz, specialist in ophthalmology in Hamburg: “Adenoviruses are characterized by their particular resistance and long lifespan.” They survive for weeks at room temperature without any problems.
Where are the viruses lurking, how do I get infected?
Like a cold, the virus spreads through tiny droplets. “They are already transmitted when shaking hands, via doorknobs, bus and train handles or towels,” warns Dr. Cat. And they are numerous: there are billions of viruses in the tear fluid of an infected person.
How do I best protect myself?
Washing your hands frequently helps. Spread the soap on your hands for at least 30 seconds, then rinse thoroughly and dry with disposable towels.
Table of Contents
A victim reports
An affected person tells how he experienced the infection
DAY 1: I’m flying from Germany to America, a colleague is sitting next to me. We talked very animatedly throughout the flight. He has red eyes, I think nothing of it.
DAY 5: Suddenly one eye starts burning like I rubbed chilli in it. The burning remains.
DAY 7: Back in Germany I go to an ophthalmologist. When I draw his attention to my severely swollen lymph glands, his behavior changes abruptly: he distances himself a meter and instructs his receptionist to disinfect everything. “You have epidemic keratoconjunctivitis,” he says, an infectious eye infection.
DAY 12-22: Exactly a week after the first, my second eye starts to burn. Then the torture begins: Both eyes swell shut, but the hypersensitive cornea cannot bear the pressure. I try to somehow hold up the swollen eyelids with the heel of my hand. I spend hours like this, sleep is out of the question. Even the red stand-by light on my stereo seems glaringly bright and almost unbearable. I can’t see anything.
DAY 23-75: The eyes are sometimes more, sometimes less sensitive, the pain improves slightly with ointments. But things that are taken for granted, such as driving a car, are not included.
DAY 76-90: The acute infection is over, cortisone drops bring relief. My cornea is still cloudy and my vision in one eye is severely reduced. My ophthalmologist says that everything will only be fine again in about six months.
