Eye problems can strike at any age or stage of life. The vision of college students can be affected by various eye issues that range from mild to severe. Understanding the most common eye problems that may impact your child might help you prevent problems from occurring in the first place. Consider the following frequent vision issues that may affect college students:
Conjunctivitis (Pink Eye)
Conjunctivitis, popularly known as pink eye, affects people of all ages. The conjunctiva, the membrane covering the white area of the eye and the eyelid, is inflamed in conjunctivitis. It can be caused by a viral or bacterial infection, with symptoms such as itching, redness, and tearing appearing in one or both eyes. There may be discharge from the affected eye or eyes.
You might want to give your child a few reminders to help them avoid conjunctivitis. To prevent conjunctivitis from spreading, wash your hands frequently and do not share makeup, towels, or washcloths. It is also a good idea to change pillowcases on a regular basis.
Allergies
When youngsters go away to college, allergy problems may appear or flare up. Your child may be in a new dorm, in a different climate, or in a different region. He or she may be exposed to allergens that cause classic allergy symptoms like itchy, watery eyes.
If you know what your child is allergic to, reducing his or her exposure to the allergen is the greatest way to help him or her feel better. If your child is allergic to pollen, for example, locking windows and wearing sunglasses outside when the pollen count is high may help.
It may be challenging to avoid allergen exposure in some instances completely. According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, artificial tears can temporarily wash irritants out of the eye and reduce dryness. Itching and redness can be relieved with decongestants and antihistamines. Remind your child to follow the recommendations and discuss any potential adverse effects. Antihistamines, for example, might make you sleepy, so taking them before a big exam is not a good idea.
Eye Injuries from Sports
For some students, going to college may entail engaging in intramural sports or physical education classes. Although there are numerous advantages to participating in sports and physical exercise, your child must wear the appropriate equipment, including eye protection. Blunt trauma, eye socket fractures, and corneal abrasions are all common sports-related eye injuries. Some injuries are severe and might even result in blindness.
Fortunately, the majority of eye injuries may be avoided. According to the National Eye Institute, wearing adequate protective eye wear helps avoid roughly 90% of sports-related eye injuries.
Infections Associated With Contact Lenses
College students are frequently preoccupied with balancing their academic and social lives. It is possible that they do not always think about how to handle and care for their contact lenses properly. However, by taking a few precautions, your child can reduce the risk of infection caused by contact lens wear and use.
Tell your child that before touching his or her contact lenses, he or she should wash hands first. When cleaning contacts, they should rub and rinse them with a store-bought solution. Always replace the lenses according to the manufacturer’s instructions.