How To Prevent Eye Issues In College

A Student's Guide to Eye Health and Wellness

Eye troubles are a common side effect of being a college student. Students spend so much time reading textbooks, writing papers, and staring at lighted screens – computers, social media, online gaming and tv/movie watching – it's almost inevitable. Eye issues should not be ignored. College students can read on to learn the importance of paying attention to eye health, how to prevent eye issues and what to do if eye concerns arise.

Possibly the last thing on a college student's mind is eye health. But the reality is that eye health should be near the top of a student's to-do list to prevent vision issues that could negatively affect the academic and social experiences of their college years, and perhaps their lives beyond school.

Although vision generally remains stable during the young adult years, problems may develop without any obvious signs or symptoms. Add in the potential for college-induced eye strain and infections, and it is clear college students should pay attention to their vision.

Common Eye Problems in College

12 Causes of Vision Problems

While many of the symptoms are temporary and ease after getting off the computer, some can suffer continued reduced vision, which, if not treated, can worsen over time.

Here are some more specific causes of eye problems in college:

What College Students Should Do to Maintain Eye Health

Vision problems can greatly affect learning ability, a big reason why students in college should not be dismissive of their eye health. College students who give heed to their eye health care now may avoid potentially serious problems later. The following is a list of eye care tips college students might want to consider incorporating into their daily routines.

Apps, Programs and Vision Resources

A variety of apps and internet browser add-ons is available to help students keep their vision in tip-top shape and provide some assistance if it isn't.

This list provides a peek at the options available, plus a couple for general health and fitness, so look a little further if one you fancy isn't listed on your platform. Odds are it's out there. Some are free, some require a fee, some have in-app purchases.

Contact Lens Tracker: 
Keep track of when you open a new set of reusable contact lenses and the number of uses so you know when it's time to reorder. App features a large font on the main screen, so you can probably read it without your lenses.

eyeCare: 
Chrome users spending too much time in front of their computers will get periodic reminders to take a break, as well as suggestions for eye exercises.

EyeCBest: 
Help prevent eye strain with this browser extension that allows users to change the font, size and boldness of web site text with one click. Available for Safari and Chrome.

Eye Pro: 
Long stints staring at a computer interfere with normal eye moisture, which can create eye soreness and fatigue. This Windows app reminds you to take short breaks with blinking sessions and longer breaks featuring visual exercises.

F.lux: 
If staring at a bright screen day and night is getting to you, try F.lux. It adjusts the color and glow of your screen display to the time of day, like sunlight during the day and warm at night. It might even help you get more sleep. Available for Windows, Mac, iPhone.

iReader: 
Eliminate clutter when viewing news and other articles with this app for Chrome and Firefox. It strips out ads and extraneous layout and displays article in an easy-to-read, scrollable display.

Magnifying Class + Flashlight: 
No more struggling to read tiny text like menus and pill bottles, especially in low light, with this iPhone app magnifying glass with flashlight. The magnifier auto focuses the text and lets you zoom in and out for personalized optimum reading.

MyFitnessPal: 
Log your exercise, track your food, chart your progress, interact with fitness buddies – pretty much everything you need to get fit is available on this iPhone app.

Quit Now!: 
Stop smoking with the help of this android app. It tells you the time since your last drag, the money you've saved by not smoking, and your health progress as you stop smoking.

Stretchly: 
When you're caught up in a computer video game or computer homework session it's easy to forget to take a break. Stretchly displays regular on-screen messages with reminders to occasionally stand up, stretch your arms, or stare off into the distance. For Windows or Mac.

Vision Test: 
Evaluate your eyes with this iPhone app that features tests for visual acuity, astigmatism, color accuracy, and far-field vision. Also includes an optician finder and eye facts.

Additional Resources to Help Students Keep an Eye on Vision Health

Check out these web sites for more information and helpful tips about eye health, as well as general health, nutrition and fitness advice.

• American Academy of Opthalamology: 
  Start at this list of “six smart things college students should do for their eyes,” and then check out the section “Eye Health A-Z" and another section on tips and prevention suggestions to keep eyes in tip-top shape.
• American Optometric Association: 
  While the AOA web site presents much information on eye health, including answers to eye questions and a searchable database of optometrists, this page shines the spotlight on computer vision syndrome – what it is, how it's diagnosed, and how it's treated.
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: 
  The Vision Health Initiative page on the CDC web site has all kinds of information on the basics of vision and eye health, preventing vision loss, and state and community eye health programs.
• Ergonomic Trends: 
  The 20-20-20 rule is front and center here, with an actual timer to remind you to take eye breaks at the computer, as well as a detailed and informative infographic on how to keep your eyes healthy.
• Livestrong.com: 
  This article outlines different ways college students can fit regular aerobic, strength training and stretching exercise into their hectic schedules. Ideas include dorm room workouts, workout buddies, and making use of the school's fitness center, track and pool.
• Medical News Today: 
  Eating a varied diet with lots of fruits, vegetables and lean proteins should ensure most people get the right nutrients for eye health. This article details the 10 best foods for eye health.
• National Eye Institute: 
  Describes simple steps for maintaining healthy eyes, from a comprehensive dilated eye exam to knowing your family's health history to eating right.
• USDA Nutrition at College: 
  From the USDA, a page of nutritional articles aimed at college students, including tips for healthy eating in a dining hall, healthy choices to keep in a dorm mini-fridge and how to stay active on a college campus.