3 Easy Ways To Protect Your Vision (As A Busy College Student)

This post is all about protecting your vision as a college student and contains collaborations with Target Optical and Complete Health.

*This article is not intended to be medical advice. Please speak to a medical professional for guidance regarding your eyesight.

With all the hustle and bustle of college life, it’s easy to put your health on the back burner.

After all, it always seems like there are too many tests, parties, and classes to attend and never enough time for anything else!

But as the cliche goes, health is wealth, and falling ill or developing a condition can seriously impair your college performance and experience. 

One aspect of your health that is most at risk of damage during this time is your vision. Whether for work or play, college kids are constantly exhausting their eyes with things like gadgets, harsh sunlight, ambient smoke, and more.

As a result, it’s common for students to develop eye problems. Case in point, the AAO explains that college students are at a high risk for chronic eye strain.

If left untreated, this can lead to further issues like headaches, photosensitivity, blurry vision, itching eyes, and difficulty focusing. 

Fortunately, taking care of your eyes doesn’t need to be complicated! With a few mindful habits, you can protect your eyes and improve your college life.

#1: Get Your Eyes Tested Regularly

Far too often, people delay getting their eyes tested because they think it’s unnecessary, inaccessible, or too expensive.

However, annual eye tests are essential, given that they can catch ocular issues before they worsen and connect you with experts who can advise personalized eye care routines.

In many cases, an ophthalmologist may even be able to detect other chronic issues like diabetes from a comprehensive eye test alone.

The good news is that these exams are a lot more affordable and accessible than ever before!

Busy students can simply book their eye test online through widely reachable stores like Target. Through a virtual platform, you can easily find a store near you and set an appointment at your convenience.

Moreover, should these tests show you need vision corrective eyewear, reputable outlets, like the aforementioned one, do accept certain health insurance.

This way, you can find the expert help and correction you need without hurting your budget!

And remember, regular checkups are important for your whole body - not just your eyes. If you’re looking for a doctor near you, you can easily find one using Complete Health primary care services.

#2: Protect Your Eyes From Blue Light

While many college kids certainly have UV-blocking sunglasses and vision-assisting specs, it’s safe to assume far fewer have specialty blue light glasses.

This is despite the fact that overexposure to blue light, which is emitted by the sun and tech gadgets, can cause problems with sleep, focus, and vision.

OneClass surveys even found that college students who spent more time on their tech devices scored lower than their less screen-obsessed peers.

Since it’s challenging to do a digital detox with a packed schedule, the next best step is to invest in blue light glasses for protection.

Using special filters that block out potentially harmful blue-violet rays, these glasses help improve visual comfort.

The more comfortable your eyes are, the less likely they will incur retinal damage from dryness and straining. Since these glasses can come with or without prescriptions, they can be worn by virtually anyone.

Brands like Warby Parker and Eyebuydirect even offer these glasses in a variety of styles, so you can find something that best suits your personal taste.

#3: Sleep In More Often

For many college kids, sleep is a luxury. In fact, the CDC says that over 60% of college-age students have poor sleep patterns.

For the eyes, this can result in impaired recovery from regular wear and tear. This is because the eyes use sleep to lubricate, oxygenate, and purge toxins.

These same reasons are why you often feel more bright-eyed after a good night’s rest and why eye doctors tell you to come in when you’ve had enough sleep.

As such, you should aim for at least seven hours of sleep a night. If this is too hard with your schedule, you can make time for naps instead.

A great way to stave off college burnout is to take shorter naps, which help reinvigorate you without putting your brain into a deep sleep cycle.

This ensures that when you wake, you’re not groggy, but your mind and your body (including your eyes!) feel refreshed.

Outro & Closing Thoughts

Thank you for reading this article about simple ways you can protect your vision as a college student.

Remember, nothing is more important than your health, so take the time to invest in it. You deserve it!

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