Nearsightedness is a common vision condition in which close objects look clear but far objects look blurry. The medical term for nearsightedness is myopia. Myopia happens when the shape of the eye — or the shape of certain parts of the eye — causes light rays to bend or refract. Light rays that should be focused on nerve tissues at the back of the eye, called the retina, are focused in front of the retina instead.
Causes
- The causes include:
- Caused when the cornea or lens is too curved for the length of the eyeball.
- The shape of the eye is known to be inherited.
- The risk factors include:
- Family history of nearsightedness.
- A lot of reading and spending most of the time indoors.
Types of myopia
Myopia is often divided into two categories depending on its cause: `
- Axial myopia is due to the eyeball being too long from front to back (the axial length). It’s the most common cause of myopia, especially in childhood.
- Refractive myopia can occur if the cornea or lens are too curved. It can also occur if the lens sits too close to the cornea, but this is rare.
Some people can have a combination of axial and refractive myopia.
Symptoms of Myopia:
- Squinting (partially closing the eyes)
- Needing to move closer to see objects clearly.
- Having difficulty with activities that require good distance vision, like driving or playing sports.
- Headache.
- Eye strain.
Treatment of Myopia:
- The most common treatments for nearsightedness are eyeglasses or contact lenses. Your eye doctor will prescribe the right lenses to help you see as clearly as possible.
Adults can also get surgery to treat nearsightedness. The surgery changes the shape of your cornea so it can focus light clearly.
