The New College Student's Guide to Eye Health

Now that you're a young adult, it's time to take charge of your own medical needs. As you transition from your parents' home to dorm life, caring for your vision is a step you can't skip. Before you leave for college, take a look at what you need to know about eye care and health.

Young adults should have a complete eye exam anywhere from every two to five years, according to the organization Prevent Blindness. The number of years you should go between visits depends on several factors, including:

• Whether you wear corrective lenses or not. If you wear glasses or contacts the eye doctor may want to schedule visits more often to check for changes in your prescription.
• New vision problems or concerns. A change in vision requires professional attention. If you have a new or sudden problem, an office visit is necessary.
• Other medical issues affecting the eyes or vision. Some chronic health conditions, such as diabetes, can negatively impact your eye health. Your doctor and eye care professional will suggest a visit schedule to regularly assess your eyes for changes or damage.

If the last time you had a complete vision check-up was when you were in middle or grade school, schedule a pre-college visit. Waiting until mid-semester isn't a convenient time for a check-up. Take time before school starts to let a professional assess your vision and (if needed) make changes to your current prescription.

Long hours spent studying increase the strain on your eyes—especially when you're staring at a computer screen for hours on end. Help to prevent screen-related strain and the symptoms that come with it (such as headaches or dry eyes) by making sure to:

• Take breaks. Even though it's tempting to study all night long, this won't help your eye health. The American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) recommends taking a 20 second break every 20 minutes by looking 20 feet away.
• Create distance. According to the AAO, screens should stay 25 inches away from your face to reduce eye strain.
• Moisten eyes. If you experience dry eyes during screen sessions, moisten them as needed with artificial tears. Ask your eye care professional which drops match your individual needs.

Are you squinting to see small-sized lettering on your laptop, tablet, or smartphone screen? If you find yourself moving the screen closer or narrowing your eyes to see the words on it, call your eye doctor for an appointment. Your eyes may have changed or, if you wear a prescription, you may need new lenses.

Do you wear contacts? It's easy to skip a step when caring for them — or a few. Now that you're responsible for your own contact care, it’s important that you know exactly what to do and when.

Lack of proper contact care and cleaning can lead to serious eye infections. This makes maintenance a must-do when it comes to your healthy eyes. Before leaving for college:

• Stock up on products. Review everything you need to care for or store your contacts. Buy in bulk or purchase enough to get you through the home-to-college transition time.
• Use fresh solution. Avoid infections by always using fresh solution. Reusing solution or topping off previously used solution to save money or time can cause contamination.
• Take your contacts out.  After a busy day or a late-night study session you may want to hit the sheets without cleaning your contacts. If you don't have extended wear contacts, never sleep in your lenses.

Along with these simple steps, always wash your hands before handling your lenses. This reduces the spread of germs and can keep your eyes healthy.

Do you need a pre-college eye check-up? Contact Calvert Ophthalmology Center for more information.