What Is nearsightedness (Myopia)?
Nearsightedness (myopia) is a common cause of blurred vision. If you are
nearsighted, objects in the distance appear blurry and out of focus. You
might squint or frown when trying to see distant objects clearly.
Nearsightedness is usually a variation from normal, not a disease. Less
often, nearsightedness happens because of another disease or condition.
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What causes nearsightedness?
Most nearsightedness is caused by a natural change in the shape of the
eyeball that makes the eyeball oval rather than round. Less often,
nearsightedness may be caused by a change in the cornea or the lens.
These problems cause light rays entering the eye to focus in front of the
retina. Normally, light focuses directly on the retina.
Myopia is an inherited condition. It usually starts in childhood and
stabilizes in your late teens or early twenties. Patients with myopia
see near objects more clearly, and far objects appear blurry or even indistinguishable.
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What are the symptoms?
The main symptom of nearsightedness is blurred vision when looking at distant
objects. You may have trouble clearly seeing images or words on a blackboard,
movie screen, or television. This can lead to poor school, athletic, or
work performance.
You may think your child is nearsighted if he or she squints or frowns
or holds books or other objects very close to his or her face. Children
who are nearsighted may sit at the front of the classroom or very close
to the television or movie screen. They may not be interested in sports
or other activities that require good distance vision.
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Normal Vision |
Nearsightedness
(myopia) |
Source: National Eye Institute, U.S. National Institutes of Health.top...
How is nearsightedness diagnosed?
A routine eye exam can show whether you are nearsighted. The eye exam
includes questions about your eyesight and a physical exam of your eyes.
Ophthalmoscopy, tonometry, a slit lamp exam, and other vision tests are also
part of a routine eye exam.
Eye exams should be done for new babies and children at all well child
visits. Nearsightedness most commonly begins in childhood or in the early
teens (between the ages of 8 and 14), so it is usually first discovered
in children of grade-school age.
Nearsightedness can be mild, moderate, or high.
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How is it treated?
Eyeglasses or contact lenses can help correct nearsightedness. Surgery
can also be done to change the shape of the cornea or to implant artificial
lenses in the eyes to reduce or correct nearsightedness.
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