Eye Health Conditions and Eye

Care Habits of NUS Students

Zhang Ziyu
Chen Sinuo
Wang Shining
Zhang Chenxi
Abstract

Eye health is a heated topic in Singapore. In order to find out the current eye health conditions
and eye care habits among National University of Singapore (NUS) students, the following
research was conducted in different faculties of NUS. By analysing 77 questionnaires, 78% NUS
students turned out to be myopic and the main reason might be eye fatigue. Besides, 90% myopic
students tend to rub their eyes frequently, which may indicate that rubbing eyes is also a trigger
for myopia. Moreover, due to their heavy workload, 50% of NUS students will continue working
regardless of their eye discomfort, which may worsen their eye conditions. In terms of contact
lenses, around 30% of NUS students use them constantly, but improper use of contact lenses can
result in severe eye infections, such as stye and scratched corneas. It is also found that only 3% of
NUS students have done Lasik surgery before. According to the results, the current eye health
conditions and eye care habits among NUS students are not optimistic. Therefore, the following
approaches need to be done to alleviate the situation. Firstly, students need to develop good eye
care habits, such as having a rest after a long time of studying. Secondly, NUS Office of Student
Affair (OSA) can print some handouts for new-coming students to promote their awareness of
eye related diseases.
 Content
Abstract

1. Introduction

1.1 Background 1

1.2 Objective2

1.3 Scope2

2. Methodology2

3. Results and Discussion

3.1 General results of eye health conditions2

3.2 Eye care habits of NUS students3

3.3 Students using contact lenses and undergoing Lasik surgery5

4. Conclusion and Recommendations

4.1 Conclusion6

4.2 Recommendations

4.2.1 For NUS students7

4.2.2 For NUS Office of Student Affairs7

References

Appendix
1. Introduction

1.1 Background
The situation of myopia in Asian countries is quite a serious issue. The myopic population is
growing fast with a high percentage. In Singapore, it is reported that 82% of college students
are short-sighted (Myopia in East Asia at epidemic level, 2012). This urgent trend contributes
to a wide concentration from the public and there have been much research addressing
myopic situations over the past a few decades. Statistical data show that there are 15,000
articles related to myopia (Sivak, 2012). However, most people still have little awareness on
protecting eye health. In a survey conducted in Singapore, 67% think eye health check is
necessary, while only 38 percent of them check their eyes at least once a year (Vimita, 2015).
Eyes are considered as the windows of our souls. Lack of proper eye care habit contributes to
poor eyesight and bad eye health condition. Many students spend their time on buses using
electronic devices or concentrating on computers for a long time without a break. Some
students with eye fatigue abuse eye-drops in order to ease their eyes. Gradually, they find
their eyes are addictive to eye-drops. If they stop using it, their eyes are unbearably tired
(Krista, 2014). Eyes can suffer from infections like keratitis if people use contact lenses
improperly or rub their eyes too often (Kierstan, 2014). According to a survey conducted by
the Ministry of Health, thousands of people get conjunctivitis or other eye infections, which
is a chronic disturbance. With poor eyesight and eye health conditions, people suffer from
many negative influences. The most obvious one is that their lives quality decreases due to
the inconvenient caused by myopic. Apart from these disadvantages, people with eye myopia
are also likely to undergo some even more serious diseases, for instance, cataract, detachment
of retina and glaucoma, which can lead to losing of sight (Holden, Sankaridurg, Aller, Jong,
& He, 2014). However, it is such a dilemma that electronic devices are so prevalent that
almost every field of lives has connection with them. For college students especially those
computing students, electronic devices have become an important part of education (Rajeev,
Gupta, & Sharma, 2006).

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1.2 Object
This research is conducted in order to find out the current eye health situation in the National
University of Singapore (NUS) and identify the relationships between eye care habits and
eye health conditions as well as some common problems among students related to eye care
habits. The final purpose is to propose possible solutions to those problems and help improve
NUS students eye care habits.

1.3 Scope
The participants for this research are NUS undergraduates and postgraduate students.

2. Methodology

In our pilot research, we found that the order of the questions in our questionnaires have problems
so that the respondents cannot understand them. So we changed the order of the questions and
distributed 27 questionnaires in Faculty of Science, 11 in School of Design and Environment, 22
in Faculty of Computing and 17 in Faculty of Engineering. In total, we collected 77
questionnaires. Then, we use Excel to analyse the data and did a primary statistics about NUS
students' myopic degree. We calculated the correlation degree between students' myopic degree
and eyes problems. We came up with the graph which shows NUS students eye problems and
their eye care habits. In this way, we succeeded in finding out the eye health conditions and eye
care habits of NUS students.

3. Results and Discussion

3.1 General results of eye health conditions

Myopia is a common problem among NUS students. According to the Singapore Ministry of
Health (2007), 80% of 18-year-old Singaporean students are myopic. The result of our
questionnaire also reflects the fact that myopic is common among Singaporean students. The
first question in our questionnaire asks whether the participant is myopic.
In Figure 3.1.1, it shows that 78% of the participants are myopic and 60% of those who are
not myopic feel tiredness from their eyes. The average eyesight degrees of those who are

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 Figure 3.1.1: Number of myopic and asymptomatic NUS

myopic is 387 degree. Among people who are myopic, as Figure 3.1.2 shows, 60% of them
are high myopic or medium myopic which means that their degrees are higher than 300.

Figure 3.1.2: the degrees of NUS myopic students

It is also found that people who rub their eyes frequently tend to be myopic. 90% of those
who chose they often rub eyes are myopic while 71% of those seldom rub eyes are also
myopic. However, the other two habits, reading books while lying on the bed ,and reading or
using electronic devices on moving bus, do not influence students eyesight since the ratio of
myopic students among students who have the habit is the same as the general ratio.

3.2 Eye care habits of NUS students

In the questionnaire, there are three questions asking students their frequency of some habits
which are harmful to their eyes. Figure 3.2.1 shows the frequency of NUS student habits
which can affect their eyesight. Part 1 refers to reading books while lying on the bed. Among

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 60 55

50
39 40
40
Number of students

30 24
19 20
17
20 14

10 3
0
Part 1 Part 2 Part 3
Often Sometimes Seldom
Figure3.2.1. the frequency of an NUS student behave habits which are harmful to eyesight
Figure 3.2.1 the frequency of an NUS students habits which are harmful to eyesight

all the collected results, over 50% of the participants do not read book while lying on the bed
and only 18% of them often behave this habit. In addition, part 2 refers to using electronic
devices on moving buses and it is the most serious habit. 71% students chose often to
describe their frequency of this habit. Part 3 refers to rubbing eyes. 80% of participants rub
their eyes but most of them only rub their eyes sometimes.
The sixth question in the questionnaire is designed to find the methods that NUS students use
when experiencing eye fatigue and Figure 3.2.2 shows the numbers of students using different

measures to deal with eye fatigue. Choices A, B, C and D refer to using eye drops,
massaging around eyes, closing eyes to rest and continuing the work respectively. It can be
found that the most common way is to have a rest. It is noted that about 50% of the students
may still continue doing their work even their eyes are tired. Besides, applying massage and
using eye drops are also common. Some students also look out of the window or sleep in
order to alleviate their eye fatigue.

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 According to the results, NUS students have some bad eye care habits such as using
electronic devices on moving buses and rubbing their eyes. The reason why most of them are
likely to watch their mobile devices may be that they feel bored on shuttle buses and they
want to make use of their time. When NUS students have eye fatigue problem, they tend to
stop their work and rest for a while. However, many students many ignore their fatigue and
continue working. This phenomenon may due to the huge study load of NUS students.

3.3 Students using contact lenses and undergoing Lasik surgery

Using Contact lens is a new trend among young people. In NUS, as it is shown in the figure
3.3.1, around 30% students use contact lenses frequently. According to an article written by
FIG
OBrien (2015), URE 3.3.1 THE
over PERCENTAG
use of contact lenses may E OF or even infection.
give rise to inflammation
CONTACT LENS USE

Yes
29%

No
71%

Figure 3.3.1: The percentage of students who use contact lens

In this research, 10% of contact lens users have suffered from contact lens diseases. One
student got stye and another students corneas were scratched due to their contact lenses.
Combining this result with Section 3.2, it may be bad eye care habits that triggered their
problems of using contact lens. However, due to small samples, there were not enough
evidence to support this hypothesis.
Lasik surgery is an innovational treatment to help myopic patients to save their vision.
According to Figure 3.3.2, only 3% of participants have done the surgery before, and neither
of them have suffered from any discomfort related to the Lasik surgery. Both of the

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 FIGURE 3.3.2 THE PERCENTAGE OF
LASIK SURGERY
3%

97%

Yes No
Figure 3.3.2: The percentage of students who have done lasik

participants were high myopic patients before the surgery, 800 degrees and 750 degrees
respectively, and their vision recovered quickly after the surgery. It seems that Lasik surgery
is the ideal treatment for myopic patients. However, according to the research conducted by
Ambrsio, Tervo, & Wilson (2008), Lasik surgery may trigger dry eyes and other eye
infections. The current situation of Lasik surgery related infections among NUS students still
need further research.

4. Conclusion and Recommendations

4.1 Conclusion

From the research results, it can be seen that myopia is prevalent among NUS students, and
their average eye degree is about 400. Besides, most of them do not have a good eye care
habit. Quite a number of NUS students rub their eyes with their dirty hands, read in a moving
bus and use electronic devices while lying on the bed. Though some of them may have their
own methods to relieve their eye fatigue, many choose to ignore it and continue to work,
which may lead to worsening eye health condition. Hence, it is important to promote
awareness about eye health issues in NUS.

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4.2 Recommendations

4.2.1. For NUS students

According to the questionnaire, the average eyesight of NUS students is 387 degree and 60%
of them are high or medium myopic. NUS students myopia problem is quite serious that
students should care more about their eyesight. The students should develop good eye habits
to keep their eyes healthy. To begin with, do not overuse the eyes. After long hours of work or
study, try to relax the eyes by looking far into the distance and looking at some green stuff.
The eye drops can be properly used to release eye fatigue, but students cannot use it very
frequently in order to prevent addiction. Once or twice a day is the best dose. Meanwhile, do
not read books or use electronic devices when taking a bus and do not rub eyes with unclean
hands. Try to take a rest when having eyes fatigue instead of using too much eye drops or
rubbing eyes. Applying eye massage daily could also help to relieve the eye fatigue to a large
extent. In conclusion, NUS students should develop good eye habits by relaxing eyes after
long hours of work, using eye drops properly, applying eye massage and avoiding reading
books or using electronic devices when taking a bus.

4.2.2. For NUS Office of Student Affairs

NUS Office of Student Affairs (OSA) can also resort to some actions so that students in NUS
will attach greater importance to their eye health habits. OSA can print some booklets and
distribute them to students. The content of those booklets should contain some examples of
bad eye care habits and the negative influence of them. In addition, the booklets can give
students advice on how to use eye drops and contact lenses properly in order to alleviate the
situation of misuse now. OSA can also hold talks for students to introduce the information
directly. Inviting some experts to give the talks can improve the reliability of the information
and more students are likely to attend the talks and realise the importance of protecting their
eyes. In conclusion, OSA should alert NUS students to develop good eye habits by printing
and distributing booklets about eye care habits to students and holding talks about eye health
for students.

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References
Ambrsio Jr, R., Tervo, T., & Wilson, S. E. (2008). LASIK-associated dry eye and neurotrophic
epitheliopathy: pathophysiology and strategies for prevention and treatment. Journal of
refractive surgery, 24(4), 396-407.

Kierstan, B. (2014, October). Contact lens related infections. Retrieved from

https://www.aao.org/eye-health/diseases/contact-lens-related-eye-infections

Krista, B. (2014). Over the counter eye drops: refreshing or bad for eyes? Retrieved
from https://www.beautylish.com/a/vxszr/are-eye-drops-safe

Holden, B. Sankaridurg, P. Aller, T. Jong, M. He, M. (2014). Myopia, an underrated

global challenge to vision: where the current data takes us on myopia control. Eye
28, 142146.

Myopia in East Asia at epidemic level. (2012, May). The New Paper, p12-13
OBrien, B. (2015 March 22). Shocking new contact lens fashion trends that worry
opticians. Retrieved from http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/brendan-o/fashion-
contact-lenses_b_6506994.html
Rajeev, A., Gupta, A., & Sharma, M. (2006). Visual fatigue and computer use among
college students. Indian J Comm Med, 31(3), 192-3.
Singapore Ministry of Health (2007). Myopia. Retrieved from: https://
www.moh.gov.sg/content/moh_web/home/pressRoom/Parliamentary_QA/2007/
Myopia.html
Sivak, J. (2012). The cause (s) of myopia and the efforts that have been made to
prevent it. Clinical and Experimental Optometry, 95(6), 572-582.
Vimita, M. (2015). Singaporeans lack knowledge about eye health: study. Retrieved
from http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/singaporeans-lack/
1866896.html

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Appendix

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