Campus life a site for sore eyes
Almost 50 per cent of a group of 70 Massey University students were found to have eyesight problems, according to a study.
The Essilor Vision Foundation, a charity that tests students’ eyesight nationwide, found that 45 per cent of those in the study had previously undiagnosed eye issues.
Visique Eye Spy optometrist Maile Tarsau, who carried out the free checks at Massey, said daily use of digital devices contributed to the problem.
‘‘A lot of [students’] work can be based online these days and then they are online on their social media every day.’’
Many students spent up to 12 hours a day looking at screens without realising that it affected their eyes, Tarsau said.
‘‘Commonly people come in saying they’ve got headaches, or it takes a little while for their eyes to focus, delayed focus, sometimes their eyes are watery, gritty or scratchy, or even itchy.
‘‘People don’t always put two and two together, that it might be related to their eyes. They know they’ve been under the pump and stressed and think they are just tired.’’
Massey accounting student Megan Hislop, 19, realised after taking part in the study that her tiredness was partially a result of using a computer every day.
‘‘I didn’t really think it was anything at the time, but when looking at screens I found it took longer to focus. Some days I got headaches from it, because I’d been straining my eyes so much.’’
Hislop has been using glasses for three weeks and has noticed that her eyes don’t feel as tired.
Previous studies on primary school children showed that 30 per cent of low decile school pupils had eyesight issues, Tarsau said.
Ongoing use of digital devices throughout schooling and then at university contributed to the problem, she said.
Massey University education lecturer Julia Budd said uncorrected vision could affect behaviour and learning.
Budd was currently completing a study to see what the affects are and what improvements could be made, such as providing regular testing for children similar to dental checks they received during their schooling.
Massey University associate professor Alison Kearney, who is working on the project with Budd, said it was estimated that up to 80 per cent of learning was done through visual means.
Shannon School principal Murray Powell said some pupils used devices up to 80 per cent of the day at school. Because they used them heavily at school, she advised pupils to minimise screen time at home.