Eye Health Tips for High School and College Students
Students face particular challenges when it comes to eye health. Academic pressure brings long hours in front of screens, late-night study sessions, and irregular sleep patterns. These habits take a toll on the eyes, leading to dryness, fatigue, and discomfort that can affect both focus and performance.
Screen Time and Eye Fatigue
Prolonged computer use contributes to eye fatigue because you blink less frequently while staring at a screen. Reduced blinking means less lubrication on the surface of the eye, which leads to that tired, scratchy, dry feeling after hours of studying or writing papers.
Eyes are also not designed for prolonged focus on a single object at a fixed distance. Holding that same focal point for extended periods strains the focusing muscles inside the eye.
The 20-20-20 Rule
For every 20 minutes of screen work, look away for 20 seconds and focus on something at least 20 feet away. Looking out a window works well. Place a reminder note near your screen if you tend to forget. The goal is simple: give your eyes regular breaks from close-up focus.
Dry Eye and Students
That gritty, burning feeling after a long study session is a form of dry eye. Some students experience it only during heavy screen use, while others naturally produce fewer tears than their eyes need to stay comfortable.
Common Dry Eye Symptoms
- Stinging or burning in the eyes
- Scratchiness or a gritty feeling
- Excessive irritation from wind or smoke
- Excessive tearing (a reflex response to dryness)
What Helps
For occasional symptoms, over-the-counter artificial tears can help. These drops work like your natural tears, adding moisture and lubrication to the surface of the eye. If dryness persists or worsens, schedule an appointment with your ophthalmologist. Chronic dry eye has specific treatment options beyond what drops alone can address.
Contact Lenses and Sleep Deprivation
When a contact lens wearer stays awake studying for 18 to 20 hours or more with their lenses in, it creates conditions similar to sleeping in contacts — something ophthalmologists strongly warn against.
Why Prolonged Wear Is a Problem
The cornea needs oxygen to stay healthy. Traditional hydrogel lenses are relatively less permeable to oxygen than newer materials. Without adequate oxygen exposure, the cornea can become inflamed and vision can turn blurry. In more serious cases, prolonged lens wear can lead to infections or corneal ulcers that may permanently affect vision.
Students sometimes fall asleep without realizing it — at a desk, on a couch, in a library — with their contacts still in. Even brief unplanned naps with lenses can cause problems.
Protecting Your Eyes During Long Study Sessions
Switch between contact lenses and glasses during long study periods. If you know you'll be up late, start the evening in glasses instead of contacts.
Students with irregular sleep patterns may benefit from silicone hydrogel lenses, which allow significantly more oxygen through to the cornea than traditional hydrogel materials. Ask your eye care provider whether these are a good fit for your prescription and wearing habits.
Taking Care of Your Eyes Year-Round
Good habits formed during school carry forward. Regular eye exams catch problems early, and paying attention to symptoms like persistent dryness, blurred vision, or eye pain prevents small issues from becoming bigger ones.
If screen time, contact lens discomfort, or dry eye symptoms are affecting your daily routine, schedule an appointment at Short Hills Ophthalmology. We see patients at both our Short Hills and Clifton offices.
