Myopia

Nearsightedness, a refractive error in which distant objects appear blurred

Overview

Myopia, or nearsightedness, is a refractive error in which light focuses in front of the retina, usually because the eyeball is too long from front to back or, less often, because the cornea or lens is too strongly curved. Distant objects appear blurred while near vision is clear. It is among the most common eye conditions in the world, and its prevalence has risen sharply in recent decades, particularly among young people in urban East Asia. Both genetic and environmental factors contribute, and time spent outdoors in childhood has consistently been associated with lower risk in research. Myopia is corrected optically with concave, minus powered lenses in glasses or contact lenses, or surgically with procedures such as LASIK. High myopia is associated with an increased lifetime risk of retinal detachment, myopic maculopathy, and glaucoma, which is why approaches that slow progression in children, including low dose atropine drops, orthokeratology, and specialized spectacle and contact lens designs, are an active field of research and practice.