The college calendar is a busy one.All the time we interact with digital screens, whether for educational, communication or entertainment purposes, or through the use of books and other learning aids, our eye health can be neglected.I spoke with Dr. Joshua Vrabec, a board-certified ophthalmologist at Michigan Eye, about what college students can do to protect their short- and long-term eye health.
eye contact lens impact factor
Q: What factors contribute to poor eye health in college students?How can students protect their eyes?
A: The most common cause of permanent vision impairment in college-age adults is injury.More than 1 million eye injuries occur each year, 90% of which are preventable.The most important way to protect your eyes is to wear safety glasses when using machinery, power tools or even hand tools.Another common cause of problems is wearing contact lenses for too long, or worse, sleeping in them.This can lead to an infection (ulcer) of the cornea, which can permanently damage vision.Young people who have difficulty maintaining good contact lens habits may want to consider laser vision correction, such as LASIK.
A: It depends.If you have a medical condition such as diabetes or an autoimmune disease, you should have your eyes checked once a year.Likewise, if you wear contact lenses, you should have your eyes checked once a year to make sure the lenses still fit to minimize complications.If you don’t have the above conditions, you should consider getting an eye exam every five years.
A: Sleeping with contact lenses greatly reduces the uptake of oxygen by the corneal epithelium, making it easier for them to break down and become infected with bacteria.This can lead to inflammation of the cornea (keratitis) or infection (ulcer).Ulcers can be very difficult to treat and can cause permanent vision problems and may prevent you from having vision correction surgery in the future.
Q: Does taking steps now to ensure good eye health affect your future health?Do you think college students should still know about their eye health?
eye contact lens impact factor
A: Taking good care of your eyes now is an investment in the future.Sadly, I have seen many examples of students whose eyesight has been permanently affected by unfortunate accidents.This may result in your exclusion from certain occupations in the military, aviation and certain medical fields.The vast majority of these tragic injuries could be prevented by wearing goggles or being more careful about wearing contact lenses.I’m also often asked about the dangers of computer and phone screens, and so far the jury is still out.In general, it’s a good idea to let your near-focus mechanism (adjustment) rest frequently to avoid eye strain, but so far there has been no clear benefit for computers or blue light blocking glasses.
I’m also often asked by college students about LASIK, especially if it’s safe.The answer is yes, among suitable candidates, laser vision correction (especially the most modern surgical versions) is very precise and safe.It’s been FDA-approved for over 20 years and is a great way to get rid of the inconvenience and cost of glasses and contact lenses.
Post time: Mar-17-2022
