Nearsightedness (Myopia)

Nearsightedness or myopia, is the most common focusing problem in North America, affecting over 30% of the population. Nearsighted people can see things that are close, but they cannot see clearly in the distance. Nearsightedness usually results from an eye that is too long in relation to its focusing parts.

Because of this extra length, the lenses cannot focus the light rays from distant objects on the retina. Instead, the images focus in the centre cavity of the eye and then diverge into a blur by the time they reach the retina.

Most focusing problems like nearsightedness can be corrected with corrective lenses or refractive surgery.