The doctor talked about the risk of vision problems due to the flu

Influenza A can affect vision, and in some cases, the deterioration does not occur during the infection itself, but several days after the disease. This is primarily due to the post-viral immune response. Most often, conjunctivitis, blepharitis and chalazions can develop with the flu. On December 22, Svetlana Mirgorodskaya, ophthalmologist, ophthalmic surgeon at SM Clinic, PhD, told Izvestia about this.

"In addition, the influenza virus is able to trigger inflammatory processes that affect blood vessels and nervous tissue, including the structures of the eye. Against this background, conditions such as inflammation of the optic nerve, uveitis, retinitis, or impaired microcirculation in the retina may develop. As a result, a person may notice decreased visual acuity, blurred vision, image distortion, or the appearance of "spots" in front of their eyes," the doctor warned.

General intoxication of the body also plays a separate role. During the flu, vascular permeability increases, the inflammatory response increases, which can lead to swelling of tissues, including in the eye area. In addition, high fever, dehydration, and sudden fluctuations in blood pressure can also negatively affect the visual analyzer.

From pneumonia to encephalitis: what dangerous complications Hong Kong flu leads to

The Hong Kong flu can hit the health of the elderly the hardest.

As for flu vaccination, it can actually reduce the risk of severe post-viral complications, including ophthalmological ones. The vaccine not only protects against the virus itself or facilitates the course of the disease, but also reduces the likelihood of an excessive immune reaction, which often causes complications, the specialist noted. It is important to understand that vaccination cannot completely eliminate the individual characteristics of the immune response, however, vaccinated people have a significantly lower risk of severe and prolonged effects of influenza.

"After suffering from the flu, it is important to be attentive to any changes in vision. The reason for immediate medical attention is a sharp or gradually increasing decrease in vision, double vision, the appearance of dark spots, flashes or "flies", pain in the eyes, especially when moving, severe photophobia, as well as a feeling of shrouding or distortion of the contours of objects. These symptoms may indicate an inflammatory lesion of the ocular structures or the optic nerve and require urgent diagnosis," warned Mirgorodskaya.

She warned that a particularly high risk of such complications is observed in people with chronic diseases such as diabetes mellitus, hypertension, autoimmune diseases, as well as in patients with pre-existing ophthalmological problems. The elderly, people with weakened immune systems, as well as those who have suffered from severe flu or have been self-medicating, postponing medical treatment, are at increased risk.

Any visual disturbances after the flu cannot be ignored: timely medical treatment can prevent permanent changes and preserve vision, the doctor pointed out.

Dmitry Edelev, MD, said on December 18 that the incubation period of the Hong Kong flu does not exceed two days. He noted that for others, the sick person is contagious the day before the first signs of the disease appear and about 5-7 days after the onset of the disease. At the same time, if the disease proceeds without complications, the acute phase lasts about 4-5 days.

All important news is on the Izvestia channel in the MAX messenger.