Eye condition · Focusing problems
Myopia (nearsightedness)
Myopia makes distant objects blurry. Learn the symptoms, why it is rising in children, how it is corrected and how to slow it down.
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What it is
Myopia, or nearsightedness, means you see close objects clearly but distant ones look blurry. It happens when the eyeball grows too long from front to back, or the cornea is too steeply curved. Light then focuses in front of the retina instead of on it.
Myopia is one of the most common eye conditions in the world, and it has become much more common in recent decades, especially among children in cities.
Symptoms
- Blurry vision when looking at things far away, such as road signs or the board at school
- Squinting to see clearly
- Headaches and eye strain
- In children, sitting close to the TV or holding devices very close
Who is at risk
Myopia usually starts between ages 6 and 14. It is more likely if one or both parents are nearsighted, if a child spends a lot of time on close work, and if a child spends little time outdoors.
How it is diagnosed
An optometrist or ophthalmologist measures it during an eye exam with a refraction test, in which you compare lenses. Children often need dilating drops so the eye cannot over-focus during the test.
Treatment
- Glasses with minus (concave) lenses
- Contact lenses, including daily disposables and rigid lenses
- Refractive surgery such as LASIK, SMILE, PRK or an implantable lens for adults with a stable prescription
- Myopia control for children: low-dose atropine eye drops, special myopia-control glasses or soft contact lenses, and orthokeratology (rigid lenses worn overnight)
Why high myopia needs regular checks
Strong myopia (about −6 or more) stretches the inside of the eye. That raises the lifetime risk of retinal tears and detachment, glaucoma, early cataract and myopic macular degeneration. Glasses fix the blur but not these risks, so people with high myopia need regular dilated exams.
Prevention and living with it
For children, the best-supported habit is time outdoors, about two hours a day. Breaks from close work, good lighting and keeping books and screens at a sensible distance also help. Use our child myopia risk check to see which habits matter most for your family.
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Questions people ask
Can myopia be cured?
Glasses, contacts and refractive surgery correct the blur, but they do not change the length of the eye. In children, treatments can slow myopia getting worse.
Does myopia get worse with age?
It usually progresses through childhood and the teen years and often stabilizes in the twenties. Changes later in life can come from cataract or other conditions.