Eye Facts> Eye Diseases

Diseases & Conditions: Myopia

Overview

Nearsightedness or myopia, occurs when light entering the eye focuses in front of the retina instead of directly on it. This is caused by a cornea that is steeper, or an eye that is longer, than a normal eye. Nearsighted people typically see well up close, but have difficulty seeing far away.

This problem is often discovered in school-age children who report having trouble seeing the chalkboard. Near-sightedness usually becomes progressively worse through adolescence and stabilizes in early adulthood. It is an inherited problem.

Signs & Symptoms

• Blurry distance vision
• Vision seems clearer when squinting

Detection & Diagnosis

Nearsightedness is detected with a vision test and refraction.

Treatment

The treatment for nearsightedness depends on several factors such as the patient's age, activities, and occupation. Vision can corrected with glasses, contacts, or surgery. Refractive procedures such as LASIK can be considered for adults when the prescription has remained stable for at least one year.

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