What causes goopy eye from a cold?

Germs: The same virus that is causing the infection in your nose is also causing an eye infection. The body responds to the virus by creating thick mucous and discharge. You can use artificial tears to wash this out. This will get better when your cold gets better.

Infection: Your body reacts to certain situations by creating mucus. Green or yellow mucus indicates bacterial infection. Clear thin, discharge with infection is caused by a virus. Thick white or clear discharge is usually due to allergy. There are lymph nodes and raised areas inside the lids called papillae and follicles that help the eye md determine the exact cause. Rinsing eyes helps, sometimes drops nec.