Most people blink 18 times every minute, but studies show that amount is cut in half when we use computers and other digital devices, leaving our eyes parched.
Posting a sticky note on your monitor reminding you to blink and using eye drops will help refresh dry eyes, the AAO recommends.
[Find out how teachers are using cell phones in the classroom.]
4. Mix it up: Varying classroom activities to move between close-up and distance viewing helps exercise the eye and the muscles behind its movement, giving students' eyes the workout they need, says Repka from Johns Hopkins.
This means "some education on the SMART Board in the front of the room, some of the education on laptops or desktops, with ample time in between sessions," he says. "Look for ways to allow more distance activities."
Adding outdoor time in the mix is also important, says Repka, who cautions schools to keep physical education time a priority. A recent analysis of eye health research by members of AAO suggests outdoor time is related to lower rates of nearsightedness in children and young adults.
One of the key factors in this correlation is the amount of distance viewing that comes naturally in outdoor activities versus indoor ones. While the results of the analysis require further research, Repka says the findings add "fuel to the fire that 'near work' is a problem."
See U.S. News's coverage of Technology in the Classroom.
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