Unite For Sight's® Global Forum for Parents

Myopia

What?

Myopia, or nearsightedness, is a very common condition affecting one's distance vision.

How?

The light that enters the eye through the cornea and the crystalline lens is bent in such a way that the resulting image focuses not on the retina (the light sensitive inner wall located at the back of the eye), but in front of it. A concave lens can be used to correct the image.

The top image shows how the light enters the eye but does not reach the retina. The bottom image shows how a concave lens can correct myopia, causing the light to reach the retina.

What are its symptoms?

  • Objects appear blurry at a distance
  • Squinting

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