(BPT) - While college is often a positive experience, it can also take a take a toll on students' eyes. From intense screen time to late study sessions and nights out with friends, prioritizing eye health may not always be top of mind. While parents may not be there to oversee their children when they're away at college, they can still share important tips to set them up for success.

Whether you are a student or a parent, Dr. Heidi Pham Murphy from Visions Optometry in Sacramento, CA, has a few ideas, as she regularly meets with college students in her practice and offers proper eye care tips.

'Often I see college aged patients come to my office who don't realize how important it is to prioritize their eye health,' said Dr. Pham Murphy. 'Missteps like not properly cleaning your contact lenses could have long-term consequences. There are a number of tips college students can follow to ensure they're set up for success as they head back to campus.'

Parents, share these 5 eye health tips with your college kids:

1. Give your eyes a contact lens that delivers exceptional visual clarity

80% of classroom learning is done visually and it's no surprise that college students spend most of their learning time looking at digital screens. Blue-violet light is everywhere, coming from screens, fluorescent light and the sun and scatters more which may result in decreased visual clarity.^*

If your student wears contacts, consider ACUVUE^® OASYS MAX 1-Day which filters about 60% of blue-violet light.^*

2. Follow the 20-20-20 rule

Follow the 20-20-20 rule: take a break every 20 minutes by looking at an object 20 feet away for 20 seconds. A great time to do this is on the walk between classes as it will give your eyes a break and prevent you from walking into someone else which can happen if you're looking down at your phone.

When looking at a digital screen, you blink 60% less, which may lead to feelings of dryness and tired eyes. ACUVUE^® OASYS MAX 1-DAY contact lenses are designed to provide visual clarity and all-day comfort, which is especially helpful when enduring those long days of college life!

Another great option is 1-DAY ACUVUE^® MOIST contact lenses, which create a long-lasting cushion of moisture for 20 hours or more.

3. Simplify your busy schedule

College students live busy lives. They juggle academic and other activities ranging from class, studying, part-time jobs, and socializing with friends. The last thing college students want to worry about is the maintenance involved with cleaning their contacts each night.

For busy college students, daily disposable lenses are a great option. Each morning, pop on a new pair of contacts and take them off and toss in the trash at the end of the day. Replacing lenses each day decreases the incidence of adverse events associated with contact lens overwear. Make your parents proud. Spend less time worrying about your contacts and more time studying!

4. Prioritize your eyes day and night

College students' schedules are constantly changing. Whether they are on their way to class, ready to hit the gym or off to the library for a study session, daily disposables such as ACUVUE^® OASYS MAX 1-Day provide exceptionally clear, comfortable vision across a wide range of lighting conditions. This lens provides UV blocking with 100% UVB and 99.9% UVA protection on top of the highest blue-violet light filtering at 60%.^{*,†,‡,§} So, whether your student is indoors, outdoors or late-night studying, this lens has them covered!

5. Invest in your eye health

Many young college students think they're invincible (as parents we can all reflect on those years when we felt we were invincible too) and don't spend much time or effort focusing on their eye health. Make it a point each year to visit an eye doctor for a comprehensive eye exam and consider quality lenses to have clear, comfortable vision day after day. Invest in your eyes now when you're young. Your older self will thank yourself later for having done so.

To find an eye doctor near your home or college, visit the ACUVUE^® eye doctor locator here.

Important Information for Contact Lens Wearers

ACUVUE^® Contact Lenses are available by prescription only for vision correction. An eye care professional will determine whether contact lenses are right for you. Although rare, serious eye problems can develop while wearing contact lenses. To help avoid these problems, follow the wear and replacement schedule and the lens care instructions provided by your eye doctor. Do not wear contact lenses if you have an eye infection, or experience eye discomfort, excessive tearing, vision changes, redness or other eye problems. If one of these conditions occurs, remove the lens and contact your eye doctor immediately. For more information on proper wear, care and safety, talk to your eye care professional and ask for a Patient Instruction Guide, call 1-800-843-2020, or download the Patient Instruction Guide.

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^* Filtering of HEV light by contact lenses has not been demonstrated to confer any health benefit to the user, including but not limited to retinal protection, protection from cataract progression, reduced eye strain, improved contrast, improved acuity, reduced glare, improved low light vision, or improved circadian rhythm/sleep cycle. The Eye Care Professional should be consulted for more information.

^† Helps protect against transmission of harmful UV radiation to the cornea & into the eye.

^‡ WARNING: UV-absorbing contact lenses are the NOT substitutes for protective UV-absorbing eyewear such as UV-absorbing goggles or sunglasses because they do not completely cover the eye and surrounding area. You should continue to use UV-absorbing eyewear as directed. NOTE: Long-term exposure to UV radiation is one of the risk factors associated with cataracts. Exposure is based on a number of factors such as environmental conditions (altitude, geography, cloud cover) and personal factors (extent and nature of outdoor activities). UV-blocking contact lenses help provide protection against harmful UV radiation. However, clinical studies have not been done to demonstrate that wearing UV-blocking contact lenses reduces the risk of developing cataracts or other eye disorders. Consult your eye care practitioner for more information.

^§ Versus publicly available information for standard daily use contact lenses as of June 2023.

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