by Cynthia M. Johnson, MA
Nearsightedness (myopia) is a problem seeing objects that are far away.
Nearsightedness happens when the eyeball is too long or the cornea that covers the front of the eye is too curved. This changes the way light enters the eye. It causes far away objects to look blurry. It is not known why this happens.
This problem is more common in people who have other people in their family who are nearsighted.
Problems may be:
A vision specialist will ask about your symptoms and health history. An eye exam will be done.
The goal of treatment is for the person to see far away objects clearly. Choices are:
Some people may choose to have surgery. Choices are:
There are no current guidelines to prevent nearsightedness.
American Academy of Ophthalmology
National Eye Institute
Canadian Association of Optometrists
Canadian Ophthalmological Society
Myopia (nearsightedness). American Optometric Association website. Available at:
...(Click grey area to select URL)
Accessed April 30, 2020.
Nearsightedness: Myopia diagnosis and treatment. American Academy of Ophthalmology website. Available at: https://www.aao.org/eye-health/diseases/myopia-nearsightedness-treatment. Published February 5, 2019. Accessed April 30, 2020.
Last reviewed February 2020 by EBSCO Medical Review Board Daniel A. Ostrovsky, MD
Last Updated: 04/30/2020
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