Are Your College Students Giving Their Eyes Enough of a Break? | Children's Eye Health & Safety Month

Eyestrain is a common issue, especially among college students. Any activity that involves the extended use of the eyes, from reading to driving, can lead to eyestrain, but in the digital age we live in, eyestrain can occur even easier.
 
Focusing on devices such as computers, tablets, and smartphones can lead to tired, sore eyes. Whether your child is spending time reading online for a school project or checking Facebook posts, it can result in tired eyes. Symptoms of eyestrain can include: 

• Dry eyes
• Sore eyes
• Blurred vision
• Sensitivity to light 
• Headache
• Double vision 

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Although eyestrain can develop from activities other than focusing on digital devices, there are several reasons that computer, tablet, and smartphone use may commonly lead to eyestrain, including:

• Looking at a screen with little contrast between background and text or that is lighter than the surrounding light can put strain on eyes.
• Viewing from less than an ideal angle or distance can contribute to eyestrain.
• Blinking less. Most people tend to blink less when using digital devices, such as computers. Blinking helps moisten the eyes, so blinking less while looking at a digital screen can lead to dry, tired eyes. 

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Decreasing Eyestrain

Eyestrain from spending too much time looking at digital devices will not cause permanent eye damage, but it can be annoying and uncomfortable. Fortunately, there are some easy fixes your children can use to decrease eyestrain this school year, including the following:

• Take frequent breaks: While it is great that your college child is studying a lot and trying to do his or her best, it is important for him or her to incorporate breaks into the day to decrease eyestrain. The American Academy of Ophthalmology recommends taking a break from digital devices using the 20-20-20 rule: Your child should take a break every 20 minutes and look at something 20 feet away for about 20 seconds.
• Place the device at the right distance: Viewing a digital device from the proper length may also help decrease eyestrain. Encourage your child to view his or her devices at arm’s length or be approximate 25 inches back from the screen. Also, your child should be looking slightly downward at the computer or mobile device, ideally.
• Adjust brightness: The monitor or screen on your child’s device should be just about as bright as his or her surrounding work area. Also, check to see if the monitor on your child’s computer or laptop has a high-resolution display. A high-resolution display produces crisper images, which may decrease strain on the eyes. You may also want to consider installing an anti-glare screen on your child’s computer monitor.
• Switch to glasses from time to time: If your college student wears contact lenses, he or she may be more susceptible to dry eyes. You can recommend that your child give his or her eyes a break by wearing glasses when reading or using the computer.

 

Is It More Than Eyestrain?

​Almost everyone develops eyestrain occasionally. Please keep in mind that eyestrain is not a disease. It involves vague symptoms that can occur due to intense use of the eyes. But the symptoms of eyestrain can also be caused by other vision problems. How do you know if your child’s symptoms are something more than eyestrain?
 
Something other than eyestrain may be going on if your son or daughter has sore eyes or is sensitive to light even after giving their eyes a rest. If you are unsure if your child has eyestrain or another vision problem, it is best to have his or her eyes examined by an eye doctor.
 
If you have questions or concerns about your child’s eye health, please call our office at 508-746-8600 to schedule an appointment with one of our ophthalmologists.
 
Stay tuned for our final blog post for Children’s Eye Health & Safety Month: Eye Protection for College Students in the Lab & Outdoors.