Myopia, commonly referred to as nearsightedness, is a common refractive eye condition. It occurs when the eye has difficulty focusing on distant objects, leading to clear vision problems at a distance. People with myopia can usually see nearby objects clearly, but objects in the distance appear blurry.

The primary cause of myopia is the shape of the eyeball. In myopic individuals, the eyeball tends to be too long, which causes the light entering the eye to be focused in front of the retina instead of directly on it. This results in the formation of a blurry image on the retina when looking at distant objects.

Myopia can develop during childhood and often progresses as a person grows. Genetics can play a significant role in its development; if parents have myopia, their children are more likely to develop it. Other factors, such as prolonged close-up work (like reading or using digital devices), can also contribute to myopia progression.

Myopia is usually corrected with eyeglasses or contact lenses, which have concave (minus) lenses to help focus the light properly on the retina. In some cases, refractive surgeries like LASIK or PRK can be performed to reduce or eliminate myopia.

It’s important to have regular eye exams with an optometrist or ophthalmologist to monitor and manage myopia, especially in children, as high myopia can increase the risk of other eye problems later in life.