Howard N. Greene, M.D., Carolinas Centers For Sight, P.C. medical contributor
Are Your Eyes Ready
TO GO TO COLLEGE?
W
hether you are going directly from high school to college or re-entering school
after time in the workforce or time spent as a work at home mom, eyestrain at
all ages is common in today’s visually demanding academic world. A typical col-
lege schedule involves long hours of reading, working at a desk and staring at a computer. A
poorly designed study environment with improper lighting, uncomfortable seating, incorrect
viewing angles and improper reading or working distances can add to the visual stress. As the
day progresses, the eyes begin to fatigue, and eyestrain and discomfort can develop.
Here are some simple steps you can take to minimize eyestrain:
• Adjust your computer so that you are looking down on the screen to reduce
eye and neck strain, adjust screen brightness and avoid glare by wearing
glasses or lens coatings that block short-wavelength (blue) visible light.
• Use proper lighting and consider turning off some lights if overhead lighting
causes glare on your computer.
• Take several minutes every hour to look away from the computer and allow
your eyes to readjust.
• Maintain proper posture by making sure your feet are flat on the floor and
your back is straight when seated at a desk.
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AUGUST 2017
Most adults under the age of 40 enjoy healthy eyes and good
vision. However, if you do have issues seeing in the distance or
up close, you may want to consider visiting an eye care profes-
sional before you start classes. Going back to school requires
that you will need to see presentation materials in the distance,
especially in larger classroom settings such as auditoriums, as
well as being able to see up close when you are referring to your
text books and notes. Glasses or contact lenses may be helpful,
even if not needed in the past. LASIK is an excellent proce-
dure for correcting distance vision if you want the simplicity and
freedom of being able to function without glasses or contacts.
Carolinas Centers for Sight, P.C. currently offers complimentary
LASIK consults so that you can find out if you are a candidate
for this safe, FDA-approved procedure for correcting distance
vision. Financing for LASIK is available.
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