Nearsightedness (Myopia) 

Nearsightedness, also known as myopia, is a common refractive error where objects at a distance appear blurry, but objects that are close to the person are seen clearly.

This happens when the eye is too long relative to the focusing power of the cornea and lens. As a result, light entering the eye is focused in front of the retina instead of directly on it. 

Symptoms: 

• Blurry vision when looking at distant objects, like road signs or a whiteboard in class. 

• Squinting to see faraway objects more clearly. 

• Frequent headaches or eye strain, especially after activities that require focusing at a distance. 

• Difficulty seeing in low-light situations. 

Causes: 

• Genetics: If one or both parents are nearsighted, there’s a higher chance that their children will develop myopia. 

• Environmental factors: Prolonged tasks at near, such as reading, using smartphones, or working on computers, may increase the risk, particularly in children. 

• Growth of the eyeball: In myopia, the eyeball grows too long from front to back, causing light to focus incorrectly 

Treatment: 

• Eyeglasses or contact lenses: These are the most common ways to correct nearsightedness by compensating for the refractive error. 

• Refractive surgery: Procedures like LASIK can reshape the cornea to allow light to focus correctly on the retina. 

• Myopia Control: Specialty contact lenses, low dose atropine, and specialty eyeglass lenses. 

The condition can often be managed effectively with corrective lenses or surgery, but it typically requires ongoing care, as myopia can worsen over time, especially during childhood and adolescence.