Web seminar discusses students' eye health
Artificial tears are the quick fix for dry contacts.
Published Sept. 22, 2008
Late night studying and hours in front of a computer, while often inevitable, could seriously damage students' vision.
On Thursday, the American Academy of Ophthalmology presented a Web seminar discussing college students' typical eye problems and how to avoid them. Ivan Schwab, University of California-Davis School of Medicine Opthamology professor, provided the research for the presentation.
The presentation was online and consisted of slides addressing eye health. It lasted about 30 minutes, allowing attendees to submit questions regarding the slides, which were later answered by Schwab and Mary Wade, the American Academy of Ophthamology spokeswoman, in an e-mail.
Schwab said it is very common for college students to have dry, strained eyes due to long hours on the computer.
"When using a computer make sure to take periodic breaks so as to reduce eye strain and study most effectively," Schwab said. "Your brain and eyes do their best work in 20 to 50 minute chunks."
Schwab said students with dry or irritated eyes should also use artificial tears and turn down the computer screen light level if they notice a glare.
"If you wear contact lenses, your eyes may not feel dry while using the computer, but if the letters or images on the screen start looking blurry, that means you need to take a break and use artificial tears to restore good vision quality."
Schwab said the most common problems for students who wear contact lenses are overuse and poor care.
"Take proper care of contact lenses by cleaning them every day, replacing them and the lens case as advised by your ophthalmologist and always taking the lenses out before you go to sleep. "
Wade talked about the different research done to put the Web presentation together. She said the slides contained information including Schwab's teaching and researching at the UC-Davis School of Medicine, the "Preferred Practice Pattern" for the American Academy of Ophthalmology on general eye health, contact lens use and care and how to avoid and take care of other eye injuries.
"The 'Webinar' slides were also reviewed by two other nationally prominent ophthalmic experts associated with the Academy," Wade said.
Student Health Center Director Susan Even said she sees a few common eye problems at MU.
"Students rarely complain about their 'sight'," Even said. "The common eye complaints are itching, such as allergies, red eyes, conjunctivitis, pain in the eyes from wearing contact lenses too long, eye pain with swelling of eyelids from stye, and foreign bodies in the eye, which could be anything from dust to makeup or even scratches from pets."
Even also stressed the importance of wearing eye protection in the sun, when riding a motorcycle and when working in labs.