Nearsightedness or myopia is a very common eye condition that causes distant objects to appear blurred, while close objects can be seen clearly. Myopia can range from mild, where treatment may not be required, to severe, where a person's vision is significantly affected.

In children the conditions can start between the ages of 6 to thirteen. During the teenage years when the body grows rapidly myopia may become worse. Nearsightedness also occurs in adults.

Signs that your child may be nearsighted can include needing to sit near the front of the class in school because they find it difficult to read the board, sitting close to the tv, complaining of headaches and tired eyes, or regularly rubbing their eyes. 

An eye exam at your local options will determine if you are nearsighted. Regular exams are recommended by the American Academy of Ophthalmology as it may not always be apparent you are having vision difficulties.

The eye has to parts that focus an image, the cornea, the clear, dome shape front surface of your eye and the lens, the clear structure about the size on an M&M’s candy. In a normally shaped eye, each of the focusing elements has a perfectly smooth curvature. If your cornea or lens isn’t evenly and smoothly curved, light rays aren’t refracted properly, and this causes a refractive error. Nearsightedness usually occurs when your eyeball is longer than normal or your cornea is curved too steeply. Instead of being focused precisely on your retina, light is focused in front of your retina, resulting in a blurry appearance for distant objects.

Corrective lenses such as eyeglasses or contact lenses treat nearsightedness by counteracting the increased curvature of your cornea or the increased length of your eye. Refractive surgery can also be performed and reduces the need for eyeglasses and contact lenses.