Most veteran law students will tell you that their eyesight has noticeably deteriorated since they started law school. It’s not surprising. Hundreds of pages of reading and hours spent on the computer writing notes and assignments (not to mention Facebooking) each week. Despite this, there’s still plenty you can do to take care of your eyes while you’re at uni.
Wear sunglasses
Too much sun is bad for your skin and your eyes. When buying a pair of sunglasses don’t be cheap and don’t be a fashion victim. Sunglasses that block out UV light are a must and there’s no guarantee that a $10 pair of sunnies from the markets or a $500 pair of designer specs are going to do the job. Be sure to check before handing over the credit card.
Get your eyes checked
This is a must if you think your eyesight has deteriorated. If your eyes are frequently sore, dry, tired or bloodshot, it’s worth making an appointment. If you experience headaches frequently then this may also be a sign of eye problems. Another sign is if you find yourself straining your eyes or holding books close to your face while you read. Even if you haven’t noticed a change, it is probably worth having a check up every year or so. That way you can catch any problems early and hopefully prevent further strain or deterioration.
Follow instructions
if you wear prescription glasses or contact lenses wear them as directed. There’s a reason why they give you instructions.
Eat for your eyes
Certain foods have been shown to play a role in reducing the incidence of eye problems like macular degeneration and cataracts. Make sure you get enough Vitamins A, C, E; selenium and zinc. Think apricots, mango, broccoli, carrots, spinach, papaya, strawberries, oranges, almonds, Brazil nuts, red meat, peanuts, dairy products and pumpkin seeds. To get the full benefits from these fruits and vegetables, be sure to eat them raw or lightly cooked where possible. Your eyes will love you for it.
Be aware of lighting
Too much or too little light can be bad for your eyes, causing you to squint or strain. If where you are working is too dim, use a desk lamp, or increase the brightness of a computer monitor. However, you shouldn’t be working in darkness in front of a bright computer screen. If your work area is too bright, turn off some of the lights or partially close your blinds and reduce the brightness of your computer screen.
Take a break
Close up work such as reading and working at a computer can be bad for your eyes over an extended period of time. Be sure to take a break on a regular basis and focus on something further away for a few seconds. This will really help your eyes to relax. It is especially important to take time out from computer work- most people blink less when on computers and this causes your eyes to become dry and uncomfortable.
If you do end up needing glasses, at least you can take comfort in the fact that they’ll make you look smarter. As a law student, what’s not to love about that?
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