Good vision is vital to learning in college. However, life on campus makes students susceptible to a host of vision and eye problems, such as injury, infection and increased nearsightedness.
These tips can help keep students seeing 20/20 throughout college:
1. Don't shower or swim in contact lenses: Acanthamoeba is a parasite that lives in water and can cause a rare but serious eye infection called Acanthamoeba keratitis. 85 percent of cases occur in contact lens wearers, one of the main risks being exposure of lenses to water. To avoid this dangerous infection, do not wear contact lenses in showers, hot tubs or when swimming. Also, never use water to clean or store contact lenses; only use sterile contact lens disinfecting solution and a clean contact lens case.
2. Go outside: Scholastically-inclined students spend much of their time studying indoors, which can put them at risk of becoming more nearsighted, or myopic. More than 50 percent of college graduates become nearsighted, with eyesight worsening for each year in College. Spending more time outdoors can protect vision from getting worse. Head outside when possible.
3. Wash your hands: Conjunctivitis, often called pink eye, spreads fast in schools and dorms. Avoid rubbing the eyes and wash hands with soap to avoid catching and spreading pink eye, not to mention other infections.
