What is myopia?

Nearsightedness usually occurs when the eyeball is slightly too long. This means that light does not focus properly on the light-sensitive tissue (retina) at the back of your eye. Instead, the light rays focus just in front of the retina, causing distant objects to appear blurred. Myopia is often inherited which means that you can check your family history to see if you or your kids are likely to get it.

An obvious sign that you may be nearsighted would be a difficulty to see distant objects clearly, like reading signs at distance. But, there are other signs as well:

• Trouble seeing words on a whiteboard or television screen clearly
• Squinting to see better
• Frequent headaches or tired eyes

In most cases, nearsightedness can be corrected effectively with concave prescription lenses. These refocus the light correctly on the retina. If you are nearsighted, your prescription will be a negative number. The higher the number, the stronger your lenses.

If you are concerned about your vision or notice that it has changed, contact your nearest optician.