7 Tips For College Students to Care For Thier Eyes
College students have enough pressure in their life such as classes, studying, working and meeting deadlines. But their eyes also encounter many items such as large amounts of screen time, lack of sleep, homework that requires endless amounts of reading. They can also come into close contact with many germs. These germs can lead to dry eyes, pink eye, eye fatigue, and numerous other eye diseases. For many college students, eye exams may not be on their radar. It is very important to have an eye exam every year, especially for this age of students. Indianapolis Eye Doctor Dr. Amy Walden & Associates have some tips for keeping your eyes sharp during college.
6 best practices for keeping your eyes healthy during your college years
Have a Comprehensive Eye Exam Yearly
Having a comprehensive eye exam every year with your Indianapolis Eye Doctor can help with the overall health of your eyes. There are many eye diseases that do not show any symptoms and no matter what your age is, these can slowly be developing without you knowing. As a rule of thumb, incorporate your yearly eye exam at the beginning of the semester, that way each year this is a part of your routine.
Take Breaks
College students tend to spend a great deal of time reading or staring at a computer screen or mobile device. This can cause fatigue to your eye, eye strain and dry eyes. There is a general rule to follow to help prevent these irritations. You can follow the 20-20-20 rule. After 20 minutes, look away at something at least 20 feet away, for 20 seconds. Try and have your computer screen at least 20 inches to 40 inches away from your face. You can also keep some lubricating eye drops to assist. If you have questions on which ones to purchase, contact your local eye doctor.
Don’t Overwear Your Contact Lenses
Do not over-wear your contacts for longer than you they are prescribed to be worn. This is all dependent on the type and style of lenses that each person has. If they are over worn, your eyes can be deprived of oxygen, which can make your vision blurry or your eyes may become inflamed. Give your eyes a break and wear your eyeglasses from time to time. If you are running late or studying at night, maybe wear your eyeglasses for a bit instead of your contact lenses.
Don’t Share Makeup
It is understandable that you are in close quarters in your dorm room or apartment you are renting, but there are some things that you should never share. Makeup is one of the main things to never share with your friends. Sharing makeup can risk the potential of spreading bacterial or viral infections. Sharing mascara, eyeliner and eye shadow can lead to eye infections, so it is best to avoid sharing any type of makeup with your friends.
Wash Your Hands Frequently
In simplest terms, washing your hands frequently and thoroughly helps keep you healthy all around. There are so many germs that can be transferred from person to person if you do not wash your hands. Imagine if some of the germs are spread to you by someone else’s hand, then you touch or rub your eyes. These germs then transform into your eyes and can cause an infection, bacterial or viral. Wash your hands in warm water with soap, for at least 30 seconds. Do this multiple times a day, especially after you have used the restroom, shopped or ate at a restaurant.
Wear Sunglasses
When purchasing sunglasses choose a pair that blocks out 99 to 100 percent of ultra-violet rays. Bigger is better when you are searching for the perfect pair of sunglasses also. If you spend a lot of time outdoors, whether it is running, exercising, boating, sports, etc., look into purchasing polarized sunglasses. These types of sunglasses reduce the glare. During the hours of 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m., it is most important to wear your sunglasses, the UV rays are strongest during these hours. During the warm months are not the only time you need to wear your sunglasses. The sun is still strong during the winter months, glares reflect off the snow and the ice as well. Finally, they can help reduce the number of wrinkles around your eyes as well.
If you are in need of prescription sunglasses, Indianapolis Eye Doctor Dr. Amy Walden & Associates have a large selection of prescription sunglasses to choose from. We have designer frames and tons of styles to pick from.
Wear Protective Eyeware When Playing Sports
No matter what type of sport you play, it is imperative to wear protective glasses. Imagine if you get a shoulder or elbow to the face, you can have permanent damage to your eye. Wearing protective eyeware can reduce this risk of eye damage is reduced and can also enhance the player’s performance. Prevent Blindness America reports that over 40,000 eye injuries are seen in hospital emergency rooms every year that are sports-related. If this doesn’t make you want to wear protective eyeware I don’t know what will. That is a lot of eye injuries, with a vast majority of them being preventable.
Visit Your Indianapolis Eye Doctor Before You Start A New Year At School
Every college student has many things on their mind, but health may not be the top priority. But without proper care of your eyes, you may experience many vision problems or eye injuries that can hinder you throughout the rest of your life. Please consider the tips that are shown above to care for the overall health of your eyes. If you have any other questions, contact us, Dr. Amy Walden & Associates, Indianapolis Eye Doctor today!