Dramatic increase in studying after going to college damaging my eye sight?

[mhk87]

I went to college freshman year and spent a lot more time studying than expected...  After quickly digging myself into a hole by retaining my high school "study" habits (~an hour or two a day), I had to increase the amount of time I spent in an artificially lit study lounge to around 4 or 5 hours a day on a good week.  That in and of itself *****, but I also think it is deteriorating my vision.  Through high school I had good 20/20 vision, but I doubt I would now if I was tested.  It started out that my vision would be blurry after reading for extended periods - close up vision would fine but, when walking back to the room, I would barely be able to make out faces down the hall until I was a few feet away.  This would correct itself within an hour or so at first but happened slower and slower as the year went on, and by probably third quarter my vision was more or less stuck that way, "shifted" toward reading up close.  It is always especially bad after working with anything up close (computer, reading etc).  The summer after freshman year the vision corrected itself within a few weeks (no more reading), but over a month in after sophomore year and my vision has definitely not improved this time.  I do not want to resort to glasses as I feel my vision would be fine if it weren't for the studying, and I would be forcing myself to live with the problem instead of correcting it.  Can I "train" my vision to move further out?  How can I prevent the studying from blurring my eyesight?  Thanks for any help.

[Sandy Feldman, MD, MS]

Dear mhk87,

I would have your eyes checked by an EyeMD.  To test your theory that the intensive closework is causing straining, ask the doctor to dilate your eyes and recheck the prescription.  If there is a large difference, then it might be possible that your nearsightedness may be the result of “too much” accommodation.  He or she can determine the best correction for you, glasses or contact lenses and when they are needed.

Dr. Feldman

Sandy T. Feldman, M.D., M.S.
ClearView Eye and Laser Medical Center
San Diego, California

[mhk87]

It seems the repetitive studying "trained" my eyesight to shift forward, is that possible?  If so then what could I do to bring it back aside from glasses or lasik?

[Sandy Feldman, MD, MS]

Dear mhk87,

Once’s eye may change even at college age.  It is important to have your eyes checked by an EyeMD to determine whether glasses or contact lenses are needed for activities such as driving.  Once stability is achieved, then laser vision correction is a possibility.

Dr. Feldman

Sandy T. Feldman, M.D., M.S.
ClearView Eye and Laser Medical Center
San Diego, California