Stop Nearsightedness from Getting Worse | Duke Health

There's a new way to treat nearsightedness, or myopia, in children. Instead of prescribing glasses and contact lenses to improve distant vision, pediatric optometrists can now use a daily low dose of atropine eyedrops -- typically used to dilate the eyes -- and special multifocal contact lenses -- normally worn by adults to correct distant and near vision -- to slow or stop the advancement of myopia. Here, Yos Priestley, OD, a pediatric optometrist at Duke Health, talks about these new treatment options and other ways children with myopia can practice good eye hygiene and care for their eyes.

00:00 What is myopia or nearsightedness?
00:11 What causes nearsightedness?
00:31 How to treat nearsightedness?
01:08 What is good eye hygiene?
01:38 What are the signs of nearsightedness?