New Contact Lenses May Cure Nearsightedness

If the prototype of a new corrective lens being unveiled later this month works as advertised, nearsightedness—or myopia—might become drastically reduced. As PhysOrg explains, current contact lenses and glasses provide what amounts to a superficial fix for the problem, but they don't keep vision from deteriorating. In fact, they may make things worse over time, resulting in the need for ever-stronger prescriptions.

The new lenses being developed by researchers at the SUNY College of Optometry "coax the eye to grow in a new way" that halts the progression of myopia. The idea is to give them to nearsighted kids, so their eyes can self-correct by the time they're adults. PhysOrg calls it a "potential cure," and Gizmag has more details on how it works. (More vision stories.)