There are several viruses that can cause infections in or around the eye. These are best considered according to what symptoms they cause.

Conjunctivitis

Conjunctivitis is inflammation of the conjunctiva and is sometimes called ‘red eye’. Virus infections can cause these symptoms but it can also be caused by other conditions, e.g. allergies such as hay fever. Viral conjunctivitis is very infectious and can cause sizeable outbreaks. Although several viruses can cause these symptoms, adenoviruses and enteroviruses are the most likely causes.

Adenovirus conjunctivitis used to be called ‘shipyard eye’ because one of the earliest outbreaks of this condition occurred in a shipyard in the north of England. Occupational health staff inadvertently spread the infection between metal workers, who were attending to have pieces of metal removed from their eyes. The forceps used for this purpose were inadequately sterilized between patients, thus causing an outbreak.

Several enteroviruses (especially enterovirus 70 and coxsackie virus A24) can cause conjunctivitis. These viruses can cause extensive outbreaks and are very infectious. Enterovirus 70 used to be called ‘Apollo eye’ after a large outbreak in Africa, which it was alleged was a result of people staring at the sky to look at the Apollo spacecraft.