Yes. Any illness can be passed to the babies, either through milk or contact. Just because she doesn't have an eye infection, doesn't mean it wouldn't cause one in the babies. Their immune systems are weaker, and any illness will effect them more than it would a healthy adult.

Eye infections are fairly common in young kittens. Their immune systems just aren't as strong as an adult cat's, and their eyes are still vulnerable for a but after they open.

Talk to a vet and see if they have anything you can use on the babies.

You are looking at rhinotracheitis, a very infectious herpesvirus disease of cats, affecting the respiratory system and eyes. It is a chronic infection and can cause eye problems, especially in kittens. Lets hope not because treatments are not totally effective.

I hope this has been helpful, even though not too reassuring.

All due respect, but it's impossible to know for SURE if it is a virus, let alone which one, without doing tests. Please do not pretend to be able to positively diagnose a medical problem over the Internet.

Maybe, but research has shown that upwards of 80% of cats have had herpes virus and are presumed carriers. Further, rhinotracheitis, which is herpes virus, is endemic in the feline population, and is a major cause of newborn eye infections, as well as respiratory problems. I'm not really pretending to diagnose this problem, as proof of it rests more in clinical signs and response, or lack of it, to treatment. Let's call it a rational deductive diagnosis ?