Bob Costas Eye Swollen Shut From Pink Eye Infection, Twitter Pokes Fun

Bob Costas got pink eye at the worst possible time.

The broadcaster came down with a nasty eye infection that left him visibly affected, with one eye nearly swollen shut during broadcasts of the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi.

Bob Costas was quick to explain the eye situation, telling viewers that he woke up in Sochi to find that his eye was swollen and “just about as red as the old Soviet flag.”

Costas also noted that he’s been seen by the network’s doctors and should be OK, though he will be forced to wear glasses for a few days.

“Bear with me for a moment as I spare my friends in the press office countless inquiries,” Costas said, according to Chris Chase of For The Win. “I have no choice to go all ‘Peabody and Sherman’ on you for the next couple of nights since I woke up this morning with my left eye swollen shut and just about as red as the old Soviet flag. According to the NBC doctors here, it’s some kind of minor infection which should resolve itself by the weekend. If only all my issues would resolve themselves that quickly, but that’s another story.”

Neither NBC doctors nor Bob Costas confirmed the eye ailment, but from his description it seemed clear that the broadcaster has a case of conjunctivitis, commonly known as pink eye.

Viewers certainly noticed Bob Costas’ eye difficulties. The broadcaster became a trending topic on Twitter and someone even started a parody account for his wonky eye.

Why’s everybody always pickin’ on me #SochiProblems

— Bobby Eyeballs (@CostasEye) February 7, 2014

The eye has not kept Bob Costas from any broadcasts, however, and is due back on the 2014 Winter Olympics broadcasts throughout the weekend.